Our History

1872

Thomas H. Rhodes recognized Pawtuxet’s recreational appeal when he opened a modest one-story frame pavilion for clambakes and flat-bottomed canoe rentals. “Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet”, as the operations were soon known, quickly expanded to include facilities for dancing, rowing, and canoeing.

1880

The Rhodes gazebo was built. It was once a waiting area for the passengers of horse-drawn carriages and streetcars. Affectionately known as “The Trolley Stop”, it is still standing today.

1898

Thomas H. Rhodes, Jr., Edward Rhodes, and Arthur Rhodes (Rhodes Brothers, Inc.) enlarged the grounds, expanded the original building, and built a new casino to meet public demand.

1901

A second new, and larger casino was built, as the earlier one had already been outgrown.

1915

In February, a fire in a neighboring canoe house spread to the Rhodes complex, destroying nearly everything in its path. Sadly, many of the outbuildings were completed razed to the ground. In August, the architect John O’Malley designed the present Rhodes ballroom, which opened to the public with more than 10,000 guests in attendance.

1978

Rhodes on the Pawtuxet and the surviving structures were placed on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places.

Original to the Building

“The Flag”
The illuminated flag is one of the most beloved features of the Rhodes ballroom. It is said that during military balls and social dances, ladies would stand beneath the flag as a signal that they were available and waiting to be asked to dance.

“The Floors”
Rhodes on the Pawtuxet boasts over 10,000 square feet of original hardwood floors. It is believed to be one of the finest dance floors in New England.

“Terpsichore”
The sculpture of Terpsichore, the muse of the dance, is original, and dates to 1880.

“The Mural of Narragansett Bay”
This beautiful mural, located above the main bar, is original to Rhodes, and was painted by Hezekiah A. Dyer (1872 – 1943). He was a member of a prominent Rhode Island political family, and is a well-known and respected artist, known for his watercolor techniques and deliberately realistic style.