The Providence River is an 8-mile tidal river formed by the confluence of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck rivers. All three - along with the Blackstone and Seekonk Rivers that join the Providence River about 1/2 mile south of here - were heavily used by the industrial age mills throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. They became some of the most polluted rivers in the nation, although an extensive cleanup program in the 80s and 90s restored them to near perfect health.
Today's photo was taken from the Point Street Bridge looking north up the Providence River towards downcity Providence. From this vantage point, it's interesting to note the colonial influence on the right (east) bank, and the modern influence on the left. The river provides an interesting boundary in time, dating back to a point where the banks of this river were one of the busiest commercial waterfronts on the east coast. Wharfs covered both sides of the river starting in the early 1700s when the main cargo was molasses, rum, slaves, fish, and timber. As time passed, jewelry, metals, and textiles became the cargo of choice. It wasn't until the end of the industrial revolution that the waterfront finally declined.
A very interesting bit of trivia unknown to most New Englanders is that this river also served as a national boundary in the 17th century. Known then as the Nassau River, the west bank was Dutch territory and part of the colony of New Netherland. The right bank was part of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and was part of the British owned New England colonies. The Treaty of Hartford in 1650 moved that boundary south to the border of modern day Connecticut and New York, at least until the conquest of New Netherland by the English settled the matter once and for all in 1664.
Post processing started with a classic filter in Topaz B&W FX. I adjusted adaptive exposure, color sensitivity sliders, regions, boost black, boost white, protect highlights, and contrast. A levels adjustment and a sepia photo filter were added in PSE.
