Travel Oracles 50 States: Rhode Island
As part of my summer series - Travel Oracles 50 States - I am revisiting each os the fifty American states as an overview on travel culture and history. Today: Rhode Island
Joined: After the war, Rhode Island was hesitant to join the United States. They wanted to be sure that the Constitution would protect their rights. They finally agreed to join after the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. Rhode Island became the 13th state to join the Union on May 29, 1790. during the American Revolution, Rhode Island also authorized the first non-white military regiment, the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. Comprised of Black and Indigenous men, it served in several battles including the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778, and the decisive Battle of Yorktown in 1781. The state remained loyal to the Union during the American Civil War, as did the other states of New England.
Original Indigenous Peoples: When the first European settlers arrived, the predominant tribes in Rhode Island were the Narragansett and Wampanoag.
First Settlers: Banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his radical views, Roger Williams (English) purchased land from the Narragansett Indians and founded the first permanent white settlement in Providence in 1636. During the colonial era most settlers were English Protestants
History moment: Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams in 1636, who had been banished from the Massachusetts colony for his advocacy of religious tolerance and the separation of church and state. During the colonial period, Newport was a major hub for shipping and trade, and in the 19th century, Rhode Island was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution and the establishment of power-driven textile mills. Rhode Island hosted the first National Lawn Tennis Championship in 1899, and is home to the Tennis Hall of Fame. Famous Rhode Islanders include novelists Cormac MacCarthy and Jhumpa Lahiri, actor James Woods, television personality Meredith Vieira and Civil War U.S. Army officer Ambrose Burnside. Benedict Arnold, the first governor appointed under the Rhode Island Royal Charter in 1663, was the great grandfather of the notorious traitor of the Revolutionary War—also named Benedict Arnold. On May 4, 1776, Rhode Island became the first colony to renounce allegiance to King George III of England. In 1908, the General Assembly established May 4th as “Rhode Island Independence Day.” Although enslaved workers were an important part of the colony’s economy, Rhode Island passed the first gradual emancipation act after Quakers waged a campaign to abolish slavery.
Known for: the last of the original 13 states to ratify the US constitution, official nickname is the "Ocean State" and often called the sailing capital of the world
Places: Newport, Providence
Movie setting: Reversal of Fortune, Dumb & Dumber
Surprising facts: On September 12, 1953, John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier were married in St. Mary’s Church of Newport—Rhode Island’s oldest Roman Catholic parish, which had been established on April 8, 1828. The White Horse Tavern was built in 1673 and is the oldest operating tavern in the United States.
Rhode Island, measuring only about 48 miles long and 37 miles wide, is the smallest of the U.S. states. Despite its small area, Rhode Island, known as the “Ocean State,” boasts over 400 miles of coastline. You may find it hard to choose among so many experiences: historic walks, fine dining, and the WaterFire display in Providence; apple picking and riverboat cruises in the Blackstone Valley; fishing trips and beach excursions in South County and Block Island; pedaling along Bristol's bike path; and taking sunset sails in Newport and touring the Gilded Age mansions (ie. Taylor Swift’s huge house in Watch Hill that she sang about on ‘last American dynasty’) Let’s travel to Rhode Island
My Experience: I only passed through and want to go back! The popular instagram account belonging to KJP is like an ongoing advertisement for the area. Top things to do in Rhode Island
Newport: The Gilded Age mansions of Bellevue Avenue are the go-to attraction for many Newport visitors. These ornately detailed late-19th-century homes, designed with a determined one-upmanship by the very wealthy, are almost obscenely grand. Their owners—Vanderbilts, Astors, Belmonts, and other budding aristocrats who made the city their playground for a mere six–eight summer weeks each year—helped establish the best young American architects and precipitated the arrival of the New York Yacht Club, which turned Newport into the sailing capital of the world.
Providence: Big-city sophistication with small-city charm: Providence has the best of both worlds. A thriving arts community, prestigious academic institutions Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), an impressive restaurant scene, and a revitalized Downtown all help the city live up to its nickname: Creative Capital. Close (but not too close) to Boston—with a completely different sensibility—Providence is a worthy stop on any New England tour.
Nature: There are two national parks: Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and Roger Williams National Memorial.
Ranking in US: Per the annual US News report, Rhode Island is currently ranked #34 out of 50 in 2021 and #26 in 2019.