Festival of Historic Houses is back

Gorgeous gardens, private homes and grand buildings- it's all part of the Providence Preservation Society's Festival of Historic Houses this weekend.

James Hall from The Providence Preservation Society joined The Rhode Show to talk more about the event.

The Festival of Historic Houses is a hip, fun, moving event that allows attendees to take a look at fantastic neighborhoods in Providence.

Friday night will be the kick off sunset soiree at the new Brown Medical building's amazing rooftop garden - only the second time the public has been allowed access to this space. It was originally a manufacturing building built in 1928.

Some places included in the tour:

• The Jewelry District - one of the neighborhoods featured this year - is home to the very first condo in Providence. Now called the Hedison Building, some RISD grads and professors made the project happen in 1978.
• The other neighborhood featured in the Festival is the Elmhurst neighborhood, featuring winding tree lined roads and gracious houses as example of the classic 20th century "city beautiful" residential streetscape. 
• New to this year is an Ira Rakatansky house that has just received a preservation plaque from PPS.
  • Ira Rakantansky is a Providence-based architect, known for his work in from mid-1940s to mid-1960s relentlessly bringing Modernism to Providence. 

Advance ticket sales will end on Thursday, May 31 at 5 pm

Tickets can also be purchased at Bank Rhode Island-Downtown & Eastside, Eastside Marketplace