Jamestown Historical Society

 Take a virtual tour of the windmill.

History. Built in 1787 and in operation until 1896, the old Jamestown windmill stands high on Windmill Hill in the center of the island. It is a three-story octagonal structure with a domed cap that turns into the wind. The domed cap, the bonnet, carries the wind shaft and the arms.

The original framework of the mill is of hand-hewn chestnut timbers with shingled exterior. The mill is maintained in working condition and major renovations to repair damage from weather and insects were completed in 2000-2001.  Booklets on the Windmill's history and operation are available at the Museum.

Windmill Day.  Windmill Day is held every even year. Next Windmill Day will be held in 2012. On Windmill Day, Saturday, August 7, 2010, the mill was open from 11:00 to 4:00. The cloth sails were raised on the newly refurbished vanes and the bonnet was turned so that the sails caught the breeze. To follow a guided tour through the windmill and see the mechanism at work, click  here.

Dick Donnelly - South County's Mr. Jonnycake - prepared Rhode Island jonnycakes on his portable grill. To watch the Jamestown Daily Record's video of Dick at work, click here.

Mike Minto of Conanicut Stoneworks demonstrated how to dismantle and rebuild a stone wall. Click here to see and hear him.

Open. The Windmill is open July August and September on weekends from 10AM to 4PM and by appointment. At these times the Windmill can be entered and one can climb to the top inside plus see the workings.

Exhibits: Inside the Windmill are pictures and diagrams and explanations on its workings plus a history of the Windmill operations.

Volunteering. We welcome anyone interested in learning how to be a docent and tour Guide. Please contact us.