Get the Word Out
Community Web Pages
Local News and Coming Events
Getting Where You're Going
General Interest
Lodging
Historic Sites, Mansions & Museums
Marine
Food
Worship
Some Community Links
Even More Directories ...
Sitemap
|
Get the Word Out Community Web Pages |
Home Local News and Coming Events Getting Where You're Going General Interest Lodging Historic Sites, Mansions & Museums Marine Food Worship Some Community Links Even More Directories ... Sitemap |
Aquidneck.US |
Beginnings
To understand the early history of Rhode Island,
it helps to know what was going on at the time in the other Colonies,
and in the European countries that established them,
and of course,
the large and diverse Native population already here.
First outside contact was probably by the Vikings. Just as Viking explorers and traders had penetrated far into Europe, often by carrying their light weight boats overland, from one river system to the next, there is evidence that they reached the Great Lakes. These efforts came to an end with the Little Ice Age of the twelfth century, which also had severe effects all through Northern Europe.
Long before Columbus, European fishing fleets visited the rich Grand Banks fishing grounds, and very likely made landings in what is now Canada for supplies and fresh water. Many of the early European visitors noted that the Indians did not seem all that surprised to see them and their ships; they were infrequent sights, but not unheard of.
The period of European exploration, beginning with the voyages of discovery by Columbus, soon led to trading posts to the North, and colonies in what is now Florida and the Caribbean.
For better or worse, it was also a period of European conflict, in religion, politics, and commerce, which tended to all be connected. The effects were felt in the New World.
We're Like No Other State, and (Mostly) Proud of It
Rhode Island is the only colony that was founded first,
and got permission later.
Rhode Island was settled by religious exiles from Massachusetts,
including
Roger Williams, who founded Providence in 1636,
and Ann Hutchinson, who soon after founded Pocasset,
which is now Portsmouth.
Both had been driven out of Boston for their religious beliefs,
including the separation of church and state.
This challenged the very foundations of Puritanism.
After consulting with Williams, Hutchinson's group purchased Aquidneck Island (later to be named Rhode Island) from the native Americans.
Soon the Portsmouth settlement fractured,
and a detachment led by William Coddington and Nicholas Easton
migrated south to establish Newport in 1639.
Other settlements on the mainland south of Providence soon followed.
The new not-quite colony was granted a royal charter in 1663,
to protect it from Massachusetts and Connecticut,
both of which considered Rhode Island,
or Rogue's Island to be an outlaw state.
Massachusetts and Connecticut considered their borders to meet,
at the top of Narragansett Bay,
with everything to the West or East being part of one or the other.
Border disputes continue to the present time,
although the shooting has stopped.
In 1862,
after a border dispute between Massachusetts and Rhode Island,
the United States Supreme Court ruled to move the state border south from Columbia Street to State Street. Since that time,
all of Fall River has been in Massachusetts.
Rhode Island (including the Providence Plantations part on the mainland)
was the first of the colonies to declare independence,
but the last to sign the new Constitution,
agreeing only after the Bill of Rights was included.
Newport became the first resort in North America when,
during the 1720's,
with visitors from the Carolinas and Caribbean,
mostly plantation owners,
who wished to get away from the summer heat, fever and humidity of their homes.
Less fortunate were the victims of the Triangle Trade during the same period.
Local ships brought sugar from the Caribbean to Newport,
to be distilled into rum,
to be traded in Africa for more slaves for the Caribbean plantations.
Rhode Island had it's own civil war,
the Dorr Rebellion,
long before the Civil War between the North and South.
While the Rebellion itself failed,
the good ideas it was based on did eventually prevail.
The most important of these was the extension of voting rights.
The old requirement of a voter being a land owner
made sense when nearly everyone farmed,
and even those who did not,
grew most of their own food.
It no longer made sense with the growth of manufacturing,
and a new immigrant population it employed.
Until 1903 the official site of the State Capital alternated every year
between Newport and Providence,
because they could not agree.
The Newport site,
the Old Colony House, is the nation's second oldest capitol building.
(They still don't agree on much else.)
Rhode Island is the only State in the US where they drive on the left. Just kidding! They do it in Mass too.
Small is Beautiful
This is the smallest and most densely populated state in the nation,
but in most spots you would never know it.
All those green areas on the map are state or local parks,
nature preserves,
and forests.
And they're growing,
thanks to an active Open Space Initiative
with both public and private funding.
With public access to much of our hundreds of miles of shoreline,
lakes and rivers,
RI is ideal for sailing, canoeing, kayaking,
bird watching,
fishing, or just some beach time.
The major Aquidneck Island roads (and the side streets)
do get busy in the summer,
but we still have some perfect places for biking or running,
or just walking.
With streets lined with historic houses both large and small,
there is plenty to look at.
Something Worth Preserving
Newport retains more buildings built before 1830 than any American community.
Many are open to visitors,
such as the Old Colony House,
the nation's second oldest capitol building;
the Redwood Library, the oldest library building in continuous use;
the Touro Synagogue, America's oldest Jewish house of worship;
the armory of the Artillery Company of Newport,
the oldest active military organization in the country;
and several examples of Colonial residential architecture such as the Hunter House.
Walking tours,
guided or self-guided,
will help you to find out more about Newport's architectural heritage,
and how it reveals the history of the city.
Shopping for the Unexpected
Newport's long tradition of quality crafts
began before the Revolution,
and continues to the present.
It includes jewelery,
furniture, furnishings,
and decorative arts.
Many craft people choose to make their home and business here.
Visit their shops and galleries,
see for yourself.
Events
There is always something happening in Newport,
from street fairs and art shows,
to boat shows, races, and nautical events,
several well-known music festivals,
and professional sports tournaments.
Do You Love a Parade?
Newport has several.
Come for Saint Patrick's Day,
the National Police Parade every May,
or Columbus Day.
Hungry?
Choose from restaurants of every kind,
and for every budget.
Enjoy a tour, a tasting, and a meal at a local vineyard,
or at one of our local breweries,
or fine dining at a restaurant with a world-class reputation.
Or get some take-out fish and chips,
and go watch the sunset.
It's all good.
Parking and Traffic
In the summer,
parking is scarce and traffic is slow.
Relax and don't let it spoil a nice day.
Even better,
bring or rent bicycles,
or rent scooters.
Or walk in town.
Nothing is very far away.
Middletown and Portsmouth
Don't forget the rest of the Island.
There are lots more restaurants (often with shorter waits at busy times)
beaches,
scenery,
shops,
and other attractions.
It's all only minutes away.
More Lists!
We try to list everything,
but it really can't be done.
So we point you to more good lists to check ...
General Interest
Regional
Visit Rhode Island * Visit Newport * Visit New England