Let’s talk about historic preservation – the heart of Historic Harrisville’s mission-driven work. Generally speaking, the term "historic preservation" includes four possible “treatments” for historic properties. Rehabilitation and preservation are actively used in Harrisville, while restoration and reconstruction are less common.

Historic Harrisville aims to maintain the essential character of Harrisville as a village where people live and work. We believe it is critical that we make every effort to ensure that those who work (and want to work) in Harrisville can live here.

Primarily a historic preservation organization, many people don’t know that Historic Harrisville is actively engaged in land conservation. We own land for conservation purposes and hold conservation easements on land owned by others.

The Harrisville General Store offers a wide variety of items year-round, from the ordinary to the unique. Read some “favorite things” from the store employees, Historic Harrisville, town employees, and store regulars.

Sustainability is a hot topic, both in terms of the environment and organizational longevity. HHI’s work in green energy helps us to be sustainable in both senses. By maximizing efficiency and using renewable energy resources, we not only help the environment, but we also reduce our operating costs.

At HHI, our commitment to preserving Harrisville extends to safeguarding, educating, and interpreting Harrisville’s rich history through the Historic Harrisville Archives, a treasure trove of documents, photographs, recordings, and artifacts.

Do you ever wonder why Harrisville is such a special place? Historic Harrisville has played a pivotal role in our town’s evolution into the community we know and love today. As HHI turned 50 years old in 2021, we focused on telling the story of our organization’s history–why and how we were founded, what our guiding principles are, and how we have grown over time.