A House of History, a Place for All: Celebrating Civics & Adult ESOL Students and Families at Lippitt House

Those in Providence’s College Hill neighborhood on the evening of May 15 may have noticed Lippitt House Museum was buzzing with activity during its celebration for Civics and ESOL students and families. In my dual role as an adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) instructor and museum interpreter, I had the privilege of greeting the steady stream of over 200 students and their families. It was a delight to watch them enter the city’s grandest Victorian home, speaking English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian, and a variety of other languages. While many might associate Victorian house museums with a particular demographic, Lippitt House Museum’s Civics Program, and the May 15th celebration in particular, shatters that stereotype. More than just a festive celebration, this event served as a powerful reminder of how museums can become vibrant, inclusive spaces that truly reflect the diversity and energy of the communities they serve.

As this event was a celebration of the ESOL students who participated in the museum’s Civics Program, Lippitt House offered a range of interactive games and activities focused on civic life. Guests of all ages enjoyed a scavenger hunt through Lippitt House’s beautifully preserved rooms, earning raffle tickets along the way. Students who completed the Civics Program tried their hand at an interactive civics-themed jeopardy game (“Teacher—I am an expert!”), while others gathered valuable information for immigrant communities at the “Know Your Rights” table.

Out in the yard, guests connected with local organizations such as the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) History Museum, Beautiful Day, RISD Museum, the National Parks Service, and Rhode Island Latino Arts, while enjoying a delightful spring breeze and admiring the museum’s historic fountain. Children enjoyed getting their faces painted, and music lovers enjoyed the live Caribbean soul music of Becky Bass in the Drawing Room. (It makes one wonder, “What varieties of music has the House heard since its creation in 1865?”)

Guests from RIFLI mingled by the museum fountain.

Young guests explored 19th century activities.

Becky Bass delighted guests with her steel pan music.

Families gathered informational materials from community partners like the National Park Service.

The AAPI History Museum and RISD Museum had informational booths.

Payasita Tilín-Tilan entertained adults and children.

Something I often hear from my ESOL students and think about a lot in my role as museum interpreter is that they don’t go to museums because “museums aren’t for [them].” Students cite feeling unwelcome and awkward at museums, whether due to a lack of formal education, lack of experience visiting museums, the aforementioned stereotype of museum-goers, or the fear of how “people like [them]” will be received. Seeing the students, then, smiling, chatting with each other, testing their English, asking questions of our community organizers, and confidently showing their families around Lippitt House was especially gratifying. “Yes,” I thought, “you do belong here.”

In fact, immigrants have always been an integral part of Providence, something the Lippitt family would have understood when they moved into the House in 1865. During the 19th century, the city saw a wave of immigration, with skilled laborers, mill workers, and domestic servants arriving from across the globe—England, Ireland, Scotland, French Canada, Germany, Sweden, Portugal, Italy, Cabo Verde, and beyond. These newcomers played a crucial role in driving Providence’s growth, transforming it into an industrial hub and a vibrant, urban, and diverse city. This rich history is something students explore in the museum’s Civics Program, learning about the foundational contributions of Providence’s immigrant communities.

During the celebration, as I circulated the museum, answering questions, taking photos, and waving at students brave enough to talk to Mayor Brett Smiley (“Teacher, did you see me? I talked with the Mayor of Providence!”), I noticed one of my students animatedly talking to his family in Henry Lippitt’s library.

“Teacher, I told my family the wall design is not wallpaper. It is paint that looks like wallpaper. It takes great skill to paint, right?”

“Yes,” I said, pleased my student remembered this detail from the class museum tour we took earlier this year.

“I did this kind of work in my country,” he continued proudly, and asked if I could take a picture of him and his family in front of the intricately patterned and painted wall.

I did, and I hoped he felt connected to the House and to the skilled workers who helped create its grandeur, and by extension, his role in Rhode Island’s long history of immigration. I think he did.

Elizabeth gathers with her Dorcas students and volunteers at the end of the event

As the event came to a close, students hugging, kissing, and waving goodbye, I reflected on how the museum became such a beautiful space of shared experience, learning, and connection—connection to the museum, but also to history, to community organizations, and to our ESOL students’ place in this ever-diverse city. The Civics and ESOL Celebration perfectly encapsulated the museum’s mission to create a welcoming environment where history, culture, and community come together to foster belonging and civic engagement.

Elizabeth Gilbert is a Museum Interpreter at Lippitt House Museum and an English Teacher for Dorcas International in Providence.

The Civics Program for Adult English Language Learners and the May 15th Celebration were made possible with support from RI Humanities, the Papitto Opportunity Connection, and individual donors.