Foster Preservation Society
Founded in 1966
OUR MISSION
The Foster Preservation Society is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the preservation of historic buildings, rural character, colonial heritage and the orderly growth and development of the town. The Society will work towards the attainment of these objectives through educational programs and publications, research into the town's history and acquisition of materials pertaining to all aspects of its history and will cooperate with historical societies and other agencies promoting compatible goals.
VISIT US:
The Society's office is located in the lower level of the old Town House located at 180 Howard Hill Road in Foster, Rhode Island. Ample parking is located to the right of the building and our entrance can be found around back. We are regularly in the office on Wednesday mornings from 9:00 am until noon. Click Here for Directions to our Office
FPS Properties
History of Foster Online
The book on the left is part of a series of books surveying the historical aspects of every Rhode Island City and Town. These surveys were conducted over a number of years by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (RIHPHC), the survey of Foster shown above was originally published in 1982. To access this book on the RIHPHC webpage simply click here. Once you reach the RIHPHC Publications webpage, scroll down to the Cities, Towns, and Neighborhoods section and click on "Foster."
If you want to visit the HIGHEST POINT in Rhode Island, you must come to Foster!
If you want to see the ONLY COVERED BRIDGE located on a public road in the State of Rhode Island, you must come to Foster!
The Foster Preservation Society would like to sincerely thank the following organizations for their recent and generous support of our mission:
In 2024 and again in 2025, Rhode Island Humanities awarded the Foster Preservation Society a THRIVE grant to provide general operating support to our organization.
In 2024, Navigant Credit Union awarded the Foster Preservation Society a grant to assist in the restoration efforts underway at the Mt. Hygeia Schoolhouse.
The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, awarded the Foster Preservation Society through the Rhode Island Culture, Humanities, and Arts Recovery Grant (RI CHARG) program. This program was made possible thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, via funds from the Federal American Rescue Plan Act.
Each year, Historic New England awards one Herbert and Louise Whitney Fund Community Preservation Grant to a small-to-medium sized heritage preservation organization in each New England State. In 2021, the Foster Preservation Society received funds to support repairs to the roof of the Winsor Blacksmith shop.