The Fox Point Hurricane Barrier is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A, relation to an event, a series of events or activities, or patterns of an area's development, as well as Criteria C, a building form, architectural style, engineering technique, or artistic value, based on a stage of physical development; or the use of a material or method of construction that shaped the historic identity of an area. The construction of the Hurricane Barrier reflects an interest in community building and development because it is an attempt to prevent community disasters (Criteria A). Additionally, the construction methods and engineering technology were innovative such that the barrier is operated in the same manner that it was when it was first built (Criteria C).

Why it was built?

During the first half of the twentieth century, Providence, Rhode Island was the second largest city in New England. The population reached its peak of 250,000 residents in 1945. The central business district is located in a shallow natural basin with an elevation of 8 to 12 feet above mean sea level and is bordered by the Providence River. In 1959, the City of Providence contributed 47 percent of metal trades and 91 percent of the jewelry-silverware industry of the Narragansett Bay area. Providence was not only the commercial and industrial center of Rhode Island, but also the wholesale retail and financial center of the State as well.

Before 1960, Providence had suffered great losses from tidal flooding. In September of 1938 and during Hurricane Carol in August 1954, downtown Providence had experienced a water depth of over eight feet. The hurricane in 1938 had been a deadly and destructive one, costing $200 million in damages and 250 lives; $120 million for the city of Providence. Amazingly, only 3.1 inches of rain had fallen in the city of Providence. On August 31, 1954, Hurricane Carol lashed its fury on the Providence area. The city of Providence suffered a greater amount of concentrated damage than any community caught in the path of the storm - upwards of $41 million. Flood tides were at 13 feet above normal. To make matters worst, the U.S. National Weather Bureau failed to give an adequate warning and the storm arrived at high tide. Gusts of wind, at a rate of 72 to 100 miles per hour, blew into Providence along with water as high at 8 feet in the downtown area. The Biltmore Hotel, a historic landmark for the City of Providence had damaging waters that reached 5.5 feet high. Damage occurred outside of the Downtown