We rode into Providence, Rhode Island on a sunny but very cold day. The State Capital buildings are always very impressive.

 

 

We were riding around the historic part of the town and noticed the tents and soldiers in a garden and wondered what was going on. When we walked up to the house we found it had been built for John Brown who was an American merchant, slave trader and then Statesman in the 18th century and it was the first mansion ever to be built in Providence.

The 'soldiers' were doing a re-enactment of the 1812 war with Britain. We had quite an amusing conversation with them. 

 

The house has been turned into a museum and as we were the only people walking around at the time, each guide in every room gave us a very full description of its contents and how life was lived there. It was fascinating and John especially enjoyed looking at all the guns and as you can see above decided to enlist and swap sides:-)