Overview
The picturesque south coast of Middletown, Rhode Island has been known as “Paradise Valley” since the 18th century. A national wildlife area, a nonprofit nature sanctuary, beloved town beaches and sweeping vistas comprise this special place, rich in cultural, natural, ecological and economic value.
JONATHAN SMALL. "Paradise," 16 x 28", oil on linen mounted on panel, in a frame that once was owned by John La Farge.
Since the 18th century, Paradise has provided creative inspiration. The philosopher Bishop George Berkeley drew upon the rock formations and vistas that define this landscape and constitute the heart of Paradise Valley. Artists John La Farge, John Frederick Kensett and George Bellows, as well as writers William Cullen Bryant and William Ellery Channing, drew from Paradise Valley’s scenic beauty.
In addition to the region’s impact on arts and culture, the network of roads in Paradise Valley is one of only eight roadways designated as scenic by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, attesting to the significance of this area. The project area includes two National Register historic districts – the Stonybrook Estate and Smith-Gardiner-Norman districts – as well as several individual properties included in the state inventory of historic assets, many of which have been determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
