One of Rhode Island’s most unusual landmarks is not inside the state at all but stands on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition — better known as The Big E — in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
How Rhode Island ended up owning a building in Massachusetts
The Big E, a regional fair that represents all six New England states, features the Avenue of States, where each state is represented by a smaller replica of its original statehouse. Through an arrangement that dates to the exposition’s early decades, each state owns and maintains its own building on the grounds and the land beneath it. The Rhode Island building is one of those structures.
The exposition draws statewide attention each year; organizers say more than 1.5 million people attend. The 2026 event is scheduled to open Sept. 18 and run through Oct. 4.
History and context
The idea for the multistate fair came from Joshua L. Brooks, who wanted an event that would showcase the character and products of the New England states. Brooks persuaded the Massachusetts Legislature to construct the Massachusetts building in 1919. Other states followed between 1925 and 1939. Rhode Island’s building, by contrast, was not completed until 1957.
"He believed that to achieve this, each of the six New England states should construct a building that could display both its character and its product,"
The arrangement allows each state to operate its own displays and sales area. Purchases in each building are subject to the tax laws of the state that owns the building, which produces some quirks for visitors. For example, the New Hampshire building at The Big E charges no sales tax.
What you can do in the Rhode Island building
Visitors to the Rhode Island building can sample regional favorites such as clam cakes, lobster rolls and Del’s frozen lemonade. Each state manages its own exhibits and staffing, and state troopers from the participating states monitor their respective buildings during the fair.
Rhode Island is among the states that no longer sell lottery tickets from their building, a change in practice compared with some other states.
- Event: Eastern States Exposition (The Big E)
- When: Sept. 18–Oct. 4, 2026
- Attendance: More than 1.5 million annually
- Highlight: Avenue of States with replica statehouses
Not sovereign territory
Despite the ownership arrangement and the presence of state-specific troopers, the state buildings at The Big E are not sovereign territory. When you step into the Rhode Island building, the laws of the Town of West Springfield and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts still apply.
Quick reference
| Building | Year completed |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1919 |
| Other New England states | 1925–1939 |
| Rhode Island | 1957 |
The Rhode Island building is modeled as a scaled-down replica of the Colony House. Over the decades the Avenue of States has become a signature feature of The Big E, allowing visitors to compare regional food, crafts and cultural displays without crossing state lines — except, in Rhode Island’s case, that they technically do.
For Rhode Islanders planning to visit this year, the exhibit offers familiar flavors in an unusual setting: a Rhode Island landmark that sits outside the Ocean State but is still owned and operated by it. The setup underscores The Big E’s character as a regional fair and its long-standing role in showcasing New England identity.
Reporting for this story included information from the Eastern States Exposition and related historical sources about the Avenue of States and the fair’s origins.
