Share this tour
Offered languages
- English
- English
Providence's own H.P. Lovecraft invented cosmic horror in these streets. This self-guided walking tour follows the real houses and graveyards behind his most unsettling fiction. At 135 Benefit Street, hear what The Shunned House's narrator finds buried beneath the basement floor.
The route winds through College Hill, from St. John's churchyard, where Lovecraft once led friends at midnight to listen for scratching in the walls. It passes the Fleur-de-Lys building, real-life home of Henry Wilcox in The Call of Cthulhu. Along the way, trace the invented history of the Necronomicon, a text so convincing that readers still ask if it's real. The tour ends at Prospect Terrace, overlooking the city Lovecraft both loved and feared until his death in 1937.
Perfect for horror fans, myth lovers, and anyone who has ever wondered where fiction ends and history begins. Simply install the free VoiceMap app and enter the code from your confirmation email to download the tour and start walking.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
This tour starts at Roger Williams Memorial centre. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
The tour ends at Prospect Terrace.
Itinerary
-
Roger Williams National Memorial (Pass by)
Your tour begins at the Roger Williams National Memorial, the leafy downtown park that H.P. Lovecraft was known to frequent for inspiration. You'll pass through the grounds, which are free to enter, before setting off into College Hill.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You'll pass the Gothic Revival Cathedral of St. John and its shadowy churchyard, the very grounds Lovecraft once described to friends as home to "unsuspected vampiric horror." The cathedral building itself is not open to the public on this route.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You'll pass by 135 Benefit Street, the real house that inspired Lovecraft's chilling tale "The Shunned House." This is a private residence, so there's no interior access on this tour — just a lingering look from the sidewalk.
Admission ticket free -
Providence Art Club (Pass by)
You'll pass the Providence Art Club and its striking neighbor, the Fleur-de-Lys Building, decorated with the same style of bas-relief sculpture that plays a key role in Lovecraft's "The Call of Cthulhu." Entry to the galleries is not included on this walking tour.
Admission ticket free -
The Stephen Hopkins House (Pass by)
Passing by the red clapboard Stephen Hopkins House, you'll hear how this early governor's home became a pivotal setting in Lovecraft's only novel, "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward." The house museum keeps separate seasonal hours, and entry is not included in this tour.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You'll pass the John Hay Library on the Brown University campus, where a bronze plaque bears lines from one of Lovecraft's own poems. The plaque is viewable from outside; entry into the library is not included.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You'll pass 454 Angell Street, the site of the grand family home where Howard Phillips Lovecraft was born in 1890, though the original house no longer stands. A modern apartment building now occupies the plot, so this is a pass-by only.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You'll pass the Halsey House on Prospect Street, the real-life mansion that inspired the Ward family home in "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward," along with the nearby "Little White Farmhouse" that Lovecraft also referenced. Both are private residences viewed from the street only.
Admission ticket free -
Prospect Terrace (Pass by)
Your tour concludes at Prospect Terrace, a small park famous for its sweeping views over Providence and its monument to city founder Roger Williams. Entry to the park is free.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Popular Countries
Get our app
