Peace Dale: Textile History and Cultural Sites

You can explore Peace Dale for your trip from two perspectives: as a place on the South County Bike Path and as a setting for textile and cultural history. The bike path runs through Peace Dale, with one section following Railroad Avenue. The town’s history includes the Peace Dale Manufacturing Company, founded by the Hazard family, cultural institutions, and buildings with a range of historical connections. If you’re looking for a hotel in Peace Dale, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Bike Path and Walking Tours

For cyclists, the South County Bike Path is a specific point of reference: it runs through town, with one section following Railroad Avenue. If you’re planning a cycling trip, you can include Peace Dale as a stop along the bike path.

Walking tours of Peace Dale are also among the activities on offer: the Peace Dale Museum offers them as part of its indoor programs for children. Check the schedule before your trip so you can take this activity into account when planning.

Textile History and Mill Construction

The Peace Dale Manufacturing Company was founded in Peace Dale by the Hazard family in the early 19th century. It produced shawls and fine wool fabrics. The power of the Saugatucket River was harnessed to run the looms. Both textile production and the use of river power are therefore part of the company’s history.

One architectural landmark in time is the stone mill building at 2 Columbia Street, constructed in 1847. The company’s founding in the early 19th century and the building’s construction date of 1847 mark different historical points: one refers to the founding of the company, the other to the mill building. The company’s history, its production, and the building’s history can thus be viewed as related but distinct aspects of Peace Dale’s industrial history.

Cultural Institutions and Crafts

The Peace Dale Public Library was founded in 1863. A later example of social and craft history is the Neighborhood Guild: its building was constructed in 1908 to offer village women classes in domestic crafts. The green space in front of the Neighborhood Guild was laid out as a park and recreation area. The institution, its educational purpose, and the open space offer insight into different aspects of the town’s history.

The bridges around the Peace Dale Mill are also part of the town’s architectural history. They were built more than 100 years ago by Indigenous craftspeople. The Peace Dale Historic District was added to the National Register on October 30, 1987. The bridges and the district’s historic designation show two different ways Peace Dale’s history is made visible: through craft-built structures and through the recognition of a historic district.

Collections and Trip Planning

The collection at the Museum of Primitive Art and Culture in Peace Dale includes archaeological and ethnological objects from North America and countries around the world. Its geographic scope therefore extends beyond local industrial history. Visitors interested in culture can consider the collection alongside the history of the mills, the Guild, and other historic sites.

This lets you choose a destination based on the interests you’d like to explore further during your stay.

For a broader travel overview: South Kingstown.