Belvedere at Hope, Bristol, Rhode Island

John Brown Herreshoff, a blind boat builder and president of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company built the Belvedere Hotel on Hope Street in Bristol, R.I in 1901.  Herreshoff and his brother naval architect Captain Nathaniel Greene Herreshoff produced the world’s finest yachts including eight consecutive successful defenders of the America’s Cup from 1893 to 1934.  Herreshoff’s master carpenters constructed the elegant four-story, 100-room brick hotel with a glass-walled roof garden and pyramidal roof overlooking Bristol Harbor to accommodate the business’ wealthy clientele.  Gilded Age notables such as J.P. Morgan and Harold Vanderbilt stayed at the Belvedere Hotel while overseeing the construction of their legendary one design racers of the New York Yacht Club.

The Great Depression, the Hurricane of 1938 and a fire took their toll on the Belvedere during the 20th century.  The building eventually fell into a state of disrepair and remained vacant for the better part of the 1990’s.

Extensive and historically sensitive renovations have returned the Belvedere to its original splendor.   The landmark features eight luxury residences and two penthouses that blend 19th century architectural elements with modern energy efficient materials and systems.  Panoramic views of Bristol’s quaint town and harbor work in tandem with open floor plans, high ceilings, fireplaces and high quality finishes distinguishing each residence.  The Belvedere is recognized as part of the Bristol Waterfront Historic District by the National Register of Historic Places. 

Belvedere at Thames, Bristol, Rhode Island

When archeologists initially surveyed the Thames Street parcel situated across from Bristol’s historic commercial and shipping wharves, they discovered the remains of mid-19th to mid-20th century store fronts.  However, further analysis revealed nineteen rare and intact fermentation vats fashioned from wooden planks and wooden pegs.  The relics embody a construction method unique to 18th century rum distilleries and provide historians with vital clues about the role Rhode Island played in the Triangle Trade during the Colonial and post-Revolutionary War periods.  On-going research is being conducted to preserve the integrity of the site, as well as investigate the distillery’s internal configuration, complexity and contribution to local and regional history.

The new L-shaped gambrel-roof building to be built in the fall of 2008, has been modelled after Bristol’s historic DeWolfe Inn that was destroyed by the Hurricane of 1938.  The new mixed-used complex features boutiques on the first floor and ten townhouse units with rooftop decks on the second and third stories.