Rhode Island's Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast

One of the most interesting Bed And Breakfast establishments you can visit is the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Rhode Island, home of the most famous axe murders in U.S. history. This B & B, originally a Greek Revival House built in 1845 which now offers six rooms for guests, including Lizzie's room as well as the master bedroom where her Father Andrew Borden and her Step-Mother Abby Borden slept prior to their gruesome deaths in August 4, 1892.

This house at 92 Second Street was purchased by Andrew Borden, who was a prominent and very rich businessman. His first wife and Lizzie' and her Sister Emma's Mother died earlier of natural causes. Mr. Borden then married Abby and the girls, now young women found themselves about to be disinherited in favor of their new Step-Mother. Well call it a coincidence if you must but the problem soon went away before the new Will was drawn. Someone took an axe first to Abby Borden then a couple of hours later to Mr. Borden himself.

Everyone has heard the little ditty "Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her Mother forty whacks, when she had seen what she had done, she gave her Father forty one". Actually there number of whacks was in the 6 to 8 range, but who's counting. Since Emma was visiting distant friends, suspicion fell on Lizzie. She was brought to trial and found innocent of all charges. Never mind that Lizzie had tried to buy a deadly poison, prussic acid the previous week. Never mind that the maid who was washing the windows outside the home would have seen any intruder during the two hour gap between Abby's slaughter and Andrew's. Never mind that the girls came quickly into their inheritance. She was pronounced innocent and lived a long if somewhat reclusive life after the trial.

I digress, back to the Bed And Breakfast. Crime solvers and mystery fans can actually sleep in the family rooms, of Lizzie, her Parents, her Sister. If you prefer they had a guest room and even a room of the maid upstairs, which are less expensive. You can eat typical foods of the period. Guests are given a breakfast similar to the one the Borden's ate on the morning of the murders, which includes bananas, Jonny-Cakes, sugar cookies, coffee and an additional meal of tasty breakfast foods. Remember to try your luck at the axe toss (just kidding).

The Bed And Breakfast has a collection of Lizzie Borden memorabilia and of course a gift shop. Tours are held and you can visit one of the chopping, oops! I meant shopping malls in the area. For more information call: 508-675-7333 or visit their web site at:

http://www.lizzie-borden.com/