When was the Roger Williams National Memorial created?
A. Proposals to create a national park site to commemorate the life and ideals of Roger Williams were made as early as 1959. Enabling legislation authorizing the purchase of land by the Federal Government for the site was passed on October 22, 1965. Through 1974, the Providence Redevelopment authority purchased land for the site, condemned and tore down buildings and cleared rubble. Final clearing and drainage was completed in 1975. In 1974, the land became the property of the National Park Service. Landscaping and tree planting was completed by the mid 1980’s.
