With all that Rhode Island is known for – the Newport Mansions, Mohegan Bluffs, and its compact size – we’re easily forgiven if there are hidden gems or even pieces of history we have yet to discover. Did you know, for example, that Providence, Rhode Island, was once hailed as the Jewelry Capital of the World? It’s a fascinating piece of history that started centuries ago.
The story of how Providence became the Jewelry Capital of the World begins, by all accounts, in 1794 with Nehemiah Dodge, a local silversmith. Some consider him the “father of America’s jewelry industry.”
Dodge’s invention of plated gold ensured that jewelry, including costume jewelry, could affordably be produced for the masses and sold at a price that the average person could afford.
Once he became a master of his craft, Dodge took on apprentices. Perhaps the most famous to study under Dodge, Jabez Gorham also became a silversmith and founded the Gorham Manufacturing Company, which initially focused on producing silver spoons.
Opposite of Dodge, Gorham’s company manufactured sterling silver and silver plate. The company, which eventually passed to his son once Gorham passed away, became so revered that such prestigious companies as Tiffany & Co. used it for its silver production.
Gorham Manufacturing Company was just one of many that made jewelry in Providence. Others include Champlin and Son, Coro Jewelry, Speidel Company, and Brier Manufacturing Company.
By the final decades of the 19th century, Providence had become well-known as the Jewelry Capital of the World and produced around a quarter of all jewelry in the United States.
Providence held onto its role as the Jewelry Capital until the late 1980s when many of the city’s jewelry companies began to close.
Once the centerpiece of the jewelry industry in Rhode Island and beyond, the Jewelry District in Providence, which earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, today beckons visitors and locals with its shops, restaurants, and upbeat vibe.
If you’ve got some free time and want to explore some of Providence's rich history, set off on the self-guided walking tour of the Jewelry District.
Did you know that Providence, Rhode Island was once the Jewelry Capital of the World? Have you been to the city’s Jewelry District? Let us know in the comments! Did you also know that Providence was once considered one of the world’s most underrated cities?
Those of us who have spent time in Providence know that a single day just isn’t enough time, so why not turn your next visit into an overnighter or a weekend getaway? Just book an enchanting Providence Vrbo.
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/rhode-island/worlds-most-underrated-cities-providence-ri/
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