On the morning of August 17th, 1790 George Washington arrived in Newport. He was accompanied by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Governor George Clinton of New York, U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Blair of Virginia, and U.S. Congressman William Loughton Smith of South Carolina. The following recount of this historic visit is from the Touro […]
History
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Today In Newport History: August 11, 1866 – First roller skating rink opens to the public in U.S.
Roller skates in the United States around 1905 James Plimpton, inventor of the modern quad roller skate, and the New York Roller Skating Association (NYRSA) leased The Atlantic House Hotel in Newport and converted the dining room into a skating area on August 11th, 1866. This was the first roller skating rink open to the public in the […]
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On This Day In Newport History: July 17, 1954 – First Newport Jazz Festival Held
Photo of 1954 Newport Jazz Festival via Newport Jazz Festival The first Newport Jazz Festival, known as the First Annual American Jazz Festival, was held on July 17th and July 18th, 1954 at the Newport Casino. The two day event featured academic panel discussions and live music performances from Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Lee Konitz, […]
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On This Day In Newport History: July 15, 1876 – Margaret Van Alen Bruguiére is born in Newport
Photo Credit Margaret Van Alen Bruguiére, also known as Daisy Van Alen, was born on July 15, 1876 in Newport, Rhode Island. While the name may not be familiar to many, the socialite, art collector and philanthropist was considered by many during the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s as the leader of Newport’s social scene. She was once one […]
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Today In Newport History: July 14, 1966 – Tanya Donelly Born In Newport
Photo Credit Singer, songwriter and guitarist Tanya Donelly was born on July 14, 1966 in Newport. Donelly co-founded Throwing Muses with her stepsister Kristin Hersh while attending Rogers High School in 1981. The band toured and recorded until 1997. Donelly was also a founding member of The Breeders with Kim Deal of the Pixies. She was also a member […]
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This Day in RI History: July 13, 1948 – US Congressman and Bryant University President Ron Machtley is born
On July 13, 1948, former US Congressman and later Bryant University President Ron Machtley was born in Johnston, PA. Machtley attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Navy from 1970-1975. After his service he received his Juris Doctoris from Suffolk UNiversoty Law School in Boston. Machtley ran for the U.S. House of Representatives […]
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This Day in RI History: July 12, 1928 – Barbara Cowsill born in Cranston
July 12th, 1928 was the birthday of Barbara Cowsill, who performed along with her children in the family band The Cowsills. Cowsill was born Barbara Claire Russell in Cranston and married William “Bud” Cowsill in 1947. Bud got involved in the music business in the 1960’s and created The Cowsills, a family band, often cited […]
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Today In Newport History: July 11, 1780 – Rochambeau Arrives In Newport
The Rochambeau Statue and Memorial in King Park was erected in 1934 to honor the assistance of Rochambeau and the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. | Both photos via Wikipedia On July 11, 1780 approximately 5,000 – 6,000 French soldiers commanded by Rochambeau arrived at King Park in Newport, Rhode Island. The code name given by the […]
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Ken Burns to bring ‘The American Revolution’ documentary to Providence this October
Acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns will make a stop in Providence on Thursday, October 16, as part of a national tour promoting his upcoming six-part documentary series “The American Revolution.” The visit, announced by Governor Dan McKee, Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore, and Rhode Island PBS CEO Pam Johnston, will include both daytime activities at […]
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On This Day in RI History: July 8, 1663 – King Charles II grants Rhode Island charter
On July 8th, 1663, 27 years after Roger Williams arrived in the colony, King Charles II gave Rhode Island its first royal charter. The Charter provided royal recognition to the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, as it was known at the time. It outlined many freedoms for the inhabitants of Rhode Island and was […]
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On this day in RI history: July 6, 1949 Soap star James Kiberd born in Providence
Actor James Kiberd was born in Providence on July 6th, 1949. He is best known for his role as Trevor Dillon on the soap opera All My Children, where he starred from 1989-2000. Over the course of his career, Kiberd worked on other soaps including Another World and Loving. He worked closely with Kelly Ripa […]
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On This Day in RI History: June 29, 1901 – Actor/Singer Nelson Eddy is born in Providence
Academy award-nominated actor and singer Nelson Eddy was born in Providence on June 29th, 1901. Eddy grew up in Pawtucket and New Bedford, where he sang in church choirs. He began his career singing with the Philadelphia Opera Society in the 1920s and later starred in movies, appearing in 19 musicals in the 1930s and […]
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Marking The Landscape: Saluting Newport’s Black & Indigenous history one century at a time
Sharing Rhode Island’s Untold History at the Newport Public Library We’re incredibly fortunate to have the Newport Public Library at the heart of our city – a vibrant and accessible space for learning for all ages and interests. In honor of Juneteenth two weeks ago, the Newport Library staff invited me to speak about the […]
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On This Day In Newport History – June 28, 1969: Newport Bridge opens for first time
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 […]
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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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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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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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“Our Town” documentary series coming to Tiverton
Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio are collaborating with Tiverton residents to produce a local documentary for their “Our Town” series. Part documentary film, community-building initiative, and fundraising effort, each edition of the “Our Town” series offers a collection of historical events, local traditions, and personal stories from a Rhode Island town. An informational […]
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The Breakers’ historic front gates reinstalled after restoration
The Preservation Society of Newport County announced today (May 21) that restoration work on The Breakers’ massive main gates has been completed.Weighing 5,600 pounds each, the main gates were put back into place by crane on Wednesday (May 21). Two large wrought-iron crown pieces were reinstalled on Tuesday (May 20).The two main gates, two side […]
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This Day in RI History: May 18, 1652 – Rhode Island becomes the first colony to pass an anti-slavery law
On May 18th, 1652, Rhode Island became the first of the thirteen colonies to ban slavery. The good intentions of those who wrote the law, however, went unheeded – the statute was largely ignored for over a century, as many merchants in the state became leading slave traders in colonial America. The act read, “Whereas, […]
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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 […]