U.S. Sen. Jack Reed joined community leaders and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission on Monday to mark the 250th anniversary of Rhode Island Independence Day at the newly reopened Old State House, the building where the General Assembly voted on May 4, 1776 to sever ties with King George III.
The vote made Rhode Island the first North American colony to pass a law renouncing allegiance to the British Crown, two months before the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Act of Renunciation became a key symbol of independence across the colonies.
The Old State House, built between 1760 and 1762, has been closed for the past two years for restoration and preservation work. It reopened to visitors Monday with a ribbon cutting outside the building.
“Rhode Islanders have always been fiercely independent. It’s in our DNA,” Reed said. “While we may be the smallest state in terms of geographic area, our citizens are courageous and our state played an outsize role in terms of America’s founding, formation, and ideals of religious freedom.”
Reed said the colony’s vote 250 years ago carried real risk for those who took it.
“Two hundred and fifty years ago, under penalty of treason and death, Rhode Island bravely declared its independence and officially renounced allegiance to King George III,” he said. “The rest, as they say, is history. From 1776 to 2026, we’ve kept that free-spirited independence burning brightly in Rhode Island.”
Reed used the occasion to draw a line from the colony’s founding moment to the work of preserving the buildings and landscapes that hold that history.
“Rhode Island has a fascinating history and historic preservation is key to preserving it, teaching it, and sharing it with new generations,” he said. “History is very much alive here — in our architecture, our landscapes, and our communities. And Rhode Islanders today share that spirit of civic engagement and being part of a democratic government.”
He also tied the anniversary to the responsibilities of present-day citizens.
“Americans do not swear allegiance to a king, but to a constitution, whose rights and freedoms and ideals we actively work to guard and uphold,” Reed said.
“Rhode Island Independence Day reminds us that the people of our state have long been ahead of the curve. Today, we carry forth the torch they lit and continue working to uphold the promise of freedom, equality, and independence for all and toward a more perfect union,” he said. “Hopefully, in another 250 years, future generations can commemorate the 500th anniversary of our independence — looking forward with hope as we do today — and also with gratitude for the continued contributions and active civic engagement of Rhode Islanders. Responsible citizenship is crucial for the preservation of a free society and each of us is called upon to guard our rights and liberties and ensure they are passed along to future generations.”
