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All the United States Rhode Island North Kingstown Gilbert Stuart Birthplace

Gilbert Stuart Birthplace

The idyllic colonial home of the artist behind the famous portraits of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Added By
Maria Valeria Diaz
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Gilbert Stuart House.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert Stuart House.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert Stuart House.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert Stuart House.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Adjacent Mill   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
The Pond in the middle of the site.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert Stuart House.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Sign at the site.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert House.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert Stuart’s unfinished 1796 painting of George Washington.   Gilbert Stuart/public domain
Carr Pond   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert Stuart House.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Deer on the hiking path.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Cottage at the site.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert Stuart House.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert Stuart House.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Adjacent Mill.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert Stuart House   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Benjamin Hammond Cemetery.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
The mill adjacent to the house where Gilbert Stuart was born.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert Stuart Birthplace.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Gilbert Stuart House.   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
Hiking Path   Maria Valeria Diaz / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Gilbert Stuart painted over 1,000 portraits throughout his career, most notably, those of the first six U.S. presidents. But his most famous work is his "unfinished" portrait of George Washington, the image of which today appears on the one dollar bill. This iconic portrait is dubbed "The Athenaeum," and it is displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Nowadays, the place where Gilbert Stuart was born and raised in Saunderstown, Rhode Island, is a museum, and a beautiful one at that, surrounded by a forest and a pond. It's a registered historic site where you will find the Stuart house as well as a snuff mill believed to be the first colonial mill. There's also an old gristmill that was adjacent to the house, an herb garden and fish ladders, and hiking trails that will reward you with a wonderful view of Carr Pond. 

The welcome center houses some original painting as well as seasonal exhibitions, and there is a tour guide who will regale you with interesting stories and anecdotes from the painter's life—such as the fact that he used the "unfinished" portrait of Washington to paint some 130 copies, which he sold it for $100 each. Or how Stuart had to paint the portrait of Catherine Brass Yates twice since the famed writer Richard Yates was not satisfied with the outcome and argued that his wife did not look beautiful enough. Stuart acceded and repainted Catherine, but commented that he was given a potato and was asked to paint a peach! This painting is also exhibited in the National Gallery of Art.

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Paintings Colonial America Art Houses Museums History George Washington Thomas Jefferson Mills Homes

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The site is open from April until Columbus day weekend. Photos are only allowed outside, not inside the house or the museum. Hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m with tours given every hour. Admission fee is $10 for the general public, $6 for children (6-12) and free for members. Boat rentals are available for members only.

The hike is about 35 minutes so you don't need extreme skills to enjoy this beautiful place. Along the hiking path you will also encounter a historic colonial graveyard where Benjamin Hammond, owner of the gristmill, and his family are buried.

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Maria Valeria Diaz

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Meg

  • Meg

Published

October 9, 2018

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Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
815 Gilbert Stuart Rd
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
United States
41.520164, -71.444735
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Nearby Places

Narragansett Rune Stone

North Kingstown, Rhode Island

miles away

Fort Wetherill

Jamestown, Rhode Island

miles away

'Moonrise Kingdom' Beach

Jamestown, Rhode Island

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of North Kingstown

North Kingstown

Rhode Island

Places 2

Nearby Places

Narragansett Rune Stone

North Kingstown, Rhode Island

miles away

Fort Wetherill

Jamestown, Rhode Island

miles away

'Moonrise Kingdom' Beach

Jamestown, Rhode Island

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of North Kingstown

North Kingstown

Rhode Island

Places 2

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