The Claiborne Pell Bridge, commonly known as the Newport Bridge, opened on this day in 1969. The main span of the Newport Bridge is 488 metres (1,601 ft), ranking it number 87 among the longest suspension bridges in the world, and making it the longest suspension bridge in New England. The bridge was constructed from […]
History
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History: June 27, 1898 – Joshua Slocum Arrives in Newport, Becomes 1st Man to Sail Single-Handedly Around the World
Did you know that the first solo circumnavigation of the globe was completed in Newport, Rhode Island? Joshua Slocum Captain Joshua Slocum, a native of Novia Scotia, completed the feat on June 27th, 1898. On April 24, 1895, at the age of 51, he departed Boston in his tiny sloop Spray , a 36′ 9″ gaff rigged […]
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On This Day In History: June 27, 1966 – Dark Shadows premieres on ABC, Carey Mansion used as Collinwood Mansion
Dark Shadows, an American Gothic soap opera, premiered on ABC on June 27, 1966. Throughout the shows run from 1966 – 1971, The Collinwood stand-in mansion used for the TV series was Newport’s Seaview Terrace, also known as the Carey Mansion. The show, which ran for 7 seasons and 1,225 episodes, depicted the lives, loves, […]
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‘All Hands on Deck’ at Jane Pickens
Earlier this week, the folks at Charter Books collaborated with IRYS for a showing of Master and Commander: The Far Side of The World at the Jane Pickens Theater. Will Sofrin, author of his new book, All Hands On Deck, was present and signed copies of the thrilling account of their restoration and sailing of […]
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On This Day In History – June 24, 1953: Jacqueline Bouvier and JFK Announce Engagement
Jacqueline Bouvier and Sen. John F. Kennedy (D-Mass.) announced their engagement on this day in 1953. After she accepted his proposal, Kennedy presented her with a 2.88-carat diamond-and-emerald engagement ring from Van Cleef & Arpels. Kennedy went on to become the nation’s 35th president in 1961. Jackie, as she was widely known, soon emerged as […]
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This Day in RI History: June 17, 1958, Bobby Farrelly is born in Cumberland
Cumberland, RI native Bobby Farrelly was born on June 17th, 1958. Along with his brother Peter, Farrelly wrote, directed, and produced several top-grossing films including Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary and Fever Pitch. Farrelly grew up in Cumberland and attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on a hockey scholarship. The brother’s career took off in […]
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This Day in RI History: June 10, 1772 – The burning of the HMS Gaspee
One of the most celebrated events in Rhode Island history happened on June 10th, 1772. The Gaspee Affair, which is still celebrated annually with festivals, a parade and a re-enactment, was a pivital moment in the lead-up to the American Revolution. The story is widely known. In the weeks preceding the burning of the Gaspee, […]
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On This Day In Newport History – June 9, 1869: Construction of First Torpedo Station on Goat Island Ordered
Secretary of the Navy Adolph E. Borie, ordered the construction of the first torpedo station on Goat Island on June 9, 1869. Cmdr. Edmund O. Matthews would become the first Commanding Officer, during the establishment, the station experimented with torpedoes and trained sailors in the use of the weapons. An Excerpt from The Navy and […]
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This Day in RI History: June 8, 1717 – Former RI Governor John Collins born in Newport
Rhode Island Governor John Collins was born on June 8, 1717 in Newport. In 1786, he became the third Governor of the State of Rhode Island, and was the last independent chosen until Lincoln Chaffee was elected in 2010. Before he was elected Governor, Collins was an admirer of George Washington and a fierce advocate […]
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This Day in RI History: June 5, 1941 – Actor Spalding Gray born in Providence
Actor and writer Spalding Gray was born on this day in 1941. Gray was best known for the autobiographical monologues he wrote and performed as well as for his films including the critically acclaimed Swimming to Cambodia and Gray’s Anatomy. Born in Providence, Gray grew up in Barrington and summered in Newport. After graduating from Emerson […]
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25 LGBTQ+ people who changed the course of history
Though you might not have known it, some of the most significant figures throughout recorded history were members of the LGBTQ+ community. Some made monumental contributions to various fields—the sciences, visual arts, academia, literature, music, and politics, among others—and did so despite the social pressures and oppositions present during their respective lifetimes, all while overcoming […]
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On This Day In Newport History – May 30, 1880: League of American Wheelmen, the first national bicycle society, formed in Newport
The League of American Bicyclists was founded as the League of American Wheelmen on May 30, 1880 in Newport, Rhode Island. Bicyclists, known then as “wheelmen,” were challenged by rutted roads of gravel and dirt and faced antagonism from horsemen, wagon drivers, and pedestrians, according to The League of American Bicyclists. “In an effort to […]
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On This Day In Newport History: May 26, 1954 – USS Bennington explodes, more than 100 Killed
One of the worst ship disasters not involving enemy action took place off the coast of Newport on May 26th, 1954. USS Bennington, a 24 Essex-class aircraft carrier built during World War II for the United States Navy, was cruising off Narragansett Bay when the fluid in one of her catapults leaked out and was detonated by […]
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This Day in RI History: May 25, 1725 -Colonial Governor Samuel Ward born in Newport
Samuel Ward was an American farmer, politician, Supreme Court Justice, Governor of Rhode Island and a delegate to the Continental Congress. Born in Newport, he was the son of Rhode Island Governor Richard Ward. Ward got his start in politics as a delegate from Westerly and was elected Governor in 1758. He was defeated by […]
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This Day in RI History: May 24, 1988 – Singer Billy Gilman is born
Singer-Songwriter Billy Gilman was born on this date in Westerly, RI in 1988. In 2000, at age 11, he emerged as a child star after being discovered by Ray Benson of the popular country band Asleep at the Wheel. Gilman had a hit with the song “One Voice” in 2000, when he became the youngest […]
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This Day in History: May 24, 1941 – Bob Dylan is born
OK, we know, he’s not a native Rhode Islander, but perhaps his greatest moment as a musician came in Newport in 1965. Singer-songwriter, “song and dance man” Bob Dylan was born Robert Zimmerman on this day in 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota. Dylan moved to New York City in 1961 and the rest is history. He […]
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This Day in RI History: May 9, 1861 -U.S. Naval Academy moved to Newport
The U.S. Naval Academy was established in Annapolis, Maryland on October 10, 1845 with Commander Franklin Buchanan its first superintendent. The first class was comprised of 50 students and 7 professors. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, then superintendent Captain George S. Blake made the decision to move the Academy to Newport. Although […]
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This Day in RI History: May 4, 1776 – Rhode Island declares independence from Great Britain
On May 4th, 1776, a full two months before the rest of the new nation, the Rhode Island General Assembly formally declared independence from Great Britain. Of course, Rhode Island was already in a state of rebellion by that point, as the declaration came four years after the Gaspee affair, and a year after the […]
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A brief history of America's oldest seagoing military branch—and it may not be the one you think
The United States Coast Guard plays a critical role in maintaining the country’s national, border, and economic security. The oldest seagoing branch in the U.S. military, it is one of the nation’s eight federal uniformed services, its duty resting in securing the maritime domain. While the Navy concentrates on guaranteeing navigational freedom and American power […]
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This Day in RI History: April 26, 1718, Esek Hopkins is born in Scituate
Esek Hopkins was born on April 26, 1718 in Scituate to a prominent Rhode Island family. Hopkins became a merchant and sea captain and in 1764, was in command of the slave ship Sally, known for a disastrous 15-month voyage that resulted in the death of 109 out of 196 slaves on board. The tragedy […]
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Women’s History Month: Celebrating remarkable women
As the end of Women’s History Month get closer, we continue to recognize the incredible contributions by so many Rhode Island women in every aspect of our lives. To be sure, women have distinguished themselves in medicine and the arts, in business and athletics, in the classroom and the courtroom, in government, and, most of […]
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Women’s History Month: Opera Singer Maria Spacagna
She is among Rhode Island’s most celebrated performers, a soprano who made Madame Butterfly her signature role, acclaimed by the La Scala Encyclopedia of the Opera “as one of the great singers of her generation.” Maria Spacagna, born in Providence, and a guest artist at the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including the Metropolitan […]
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Milestones in women’s history from the year you were born
The feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s reminded the world that women have always played important historical roles, despite often being overlooked. But even in the 21st century, many popular history books are written by and about men—usually covering war heroes, generals, and the country’s founding fathers. Studies of U.S. history and social studies […]
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U.S. Presidents that have visited Newport
With President’s Day here, we got to thinking – “just how many of U.S. Presidents have visited Newport, RI?” It’s an easier question to ask than answer as we learned as we started to go through data as many past and future U.S. Presidents have been guest in private homes for dinner, fundraisers or events without […]
Posted inOpinion
February 20, 2023: The Station Fire 20 years later
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the Station Nightclub Fire, a tragedy that left an indelible scar on the psyche of many Rhode Islanders. In a state this small, if you didn’t know someone directly affected, chances are you know someone affected indirectly by the events that night. And while the scar may have […]