The city of Providence is steeped in a rich history that permeates every façade and street corner. From its colonial origins to its industrial “Renaissance,” Rhode Island’s capital has undergone significant growth and development – a testament to the ingenuity of its architects, planners, and stewards. This May, embark on a transformative journey more than three centuries in the making, and discover how a fledgling city became a vibrant urban center for the modern era.
In a feature-length documentary from filmmaker Salvatore Mancini, Divine Providence: The Rebirth of an American City follows the infrastructural developments and feats of engineering that shaped Providence as we know it today. The film charts a course through periods of decline and rebirth, offering glimpses into the movement of railroad tracks, the relocation of rivers, and the construction of major highway thoroughfares. Examples of 17th, 18th, and 19th-century architecture feature throughout, demonstrating the conversion of brick factories, the repurposing of the city's commercial downtown, and the imaginative reuse of historical buildings.
The documentary also examines the historical context in which the city's defining projects were conceived and realized, connecting each to the individuals and organizations that made them possible. At its core, the film evokes a Providence that is emerging – a city built upon the bones of its past, where an ongoing Renaissance is directly connected with its industrial history, its natural geography, and its creative heart.
Divine Providence: The Rebirth of an American City airs on May 28 at 8 p.m. and on May 29 at 11 p.m.
WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits over the air in high definition on digital 36.1; Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD in MA; DirecTV 36, Dish Network 36.
