staff maintained enormous households, and the fortunes of America's wealthiest families rose and changed with the times. Today, visitors can experience these spaces while imagining what life was like during one of the most transformative periods in American history. Then there are properties where history gives way to legend. Belcourt of Newport, formerly known as Belcourt Castle, has developed a longstanding reputation for paranormal activity. The mansion was built between 1891 and 1895 for Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont and later became the home of Alva Vanderbilt Belmont. After passing through several owners, the property was acquired by the Tinney family, who renamed it Belcourt Castle and filled it with antiques and decorative objects. The estate's current owners openly embrace its supernatural lore, offering candlelight tours centered on stories of ghosts and alleged paranormal experiences. Of course, a ghost story is not the same thing as a documented historical event — and that distinction is part of the fun. Rhode Island's historic properties often exist somewhere between documented history and local folklore. A story may begin with an actual person or event before evolving through years of retelling. Others are simply legends that have become part of a property's identity. Belcourt's own history, for example, includes documented ownership and restoration records alongside stories of spirits that remain firmly in the realm of folklore. Either way, the stories encourage us to look more closely at the buildings themselves. Historic Rhode Island properties contain architectural details that can be difficult to replicate today: hand-carved woodwork, original fireplaces, elaborate moldings, plasterwork, narrow staircases and rooms designed for ways of life that have long since changed. Even the smallest details can reveal something about the people who built, maintained and occupied these homes. In Newport, that craftsmanship can be spectacular. Throughout the rest of the state, it can be considerably more understated — but no less meaningful. From Colonial houses to Victorian residences and historic urban neighborhoods, Rhode Island's architecture reflects the many eras and communities that shaped the state. Preserving these places is about more than maintaining beautiful buildings. It is about keeping Rhode Island's history visible and accessible. That may also explain why historic houses feel particularly compelling in October. Their appeal isn't necessarily that they are haunted. It is that they have stories. Every staircase has been climbed by generations of residents. Every fireplace once warmed another household. Every window has framed a Rhode Island landscape that has changed over time. The house becomes more than a structure; it becomes a record of the lives that unfolded inside it.
Halloween simply gives us a reason to look at those stories a little differently. This October, take a closer look at Rhode Island's historic homes and the legends surrounding them. Whether a property is associated with a documented historical event, a long-standing local tale or a mysterious story passed from one generation to the next, these places offer something more lasting than a scare. They offer a connection to the past — and a reminder that some of Rhode Island's most intriguing stories are already built into its walls.
14 DISCOVER RHODE ISLAND
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