PPS's Festival of Architecture & Design: Neutaconkanut Hill

This program is part of Providence Preservation Society's Festival of Architecture and Design (Sep 26 - Oct 30, 2026). You can find !

Join Tomaquag Museum educators Sonia Thomas and Chrystal Baker for a walking conversation about Neutaconkanut Hill and its significance as a historical, cultural, and ecological site for the Narragansett people. We follow the paved path laid during the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s from the base of the hill to its summit, the highest point in Providence, climbing about 300 feet and covering two miles in total. Along the way, Thomas points out plants and other natural features of the land that had and continue to have importance for Narragansett communities, and the transformation from Indigenous land stewardship and collective usufruct rights, to European concepts of individual paper ownership/property.

Sonia Thomas Silva, traditional name Ascawawa, is a Narragansett educator and community leader with more than 25 years of experience in education, community development, and culturally grounded programming. As a Museum Educator at Tomaquag Museum, she shares Narragansett history, lifeways, traditions, and contemporary presence through storytelling, hands-on learning, and Indigenous perspectives. Her work emphasizes cultural respect, connection to land and community, and creating meaningful learning experiences for people of all ages.

The trail to the top of the hill is steep, and the paving can be uneven and rocky in places, so please wear comfortable close-toed hiking or walking shoes and bring water. This tour will run in light rain.

Tickets: Donation Event. Suggested donation of $15 per person (note that a minimum of $1 is required to complete registration for this event – this is a $1 fee that goes to Eventbrite, not PPS).

All tickets are fully refundable up to seven days in advance of each program. After that, tickets are nonrefundable because we may not be able to sell the released tickets within a short timeframe. Thanks for your understanding!