Local historian Fred Zilian will give a talk on the Rhode Island Campaign and Battle of Rhode Island (1778) at the Tiverton Public Library on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m. The program is free and open to the public. The library is located at 34 Roosevelt Ave. in Tiverton. During the Revolutionary War, Newport […]
History
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How the first Pilgrims and the Puritans differed in their views on religion and respect for Native Americans
Michael Carrafiello, Miami University Every November, numerous articles recount the arrival of 17th-century English Pilgrims and Puritans and their quest for religious freedom. Stories are told about the founding of Massachusetts Bay Colony and the celebration of the first Thanksgiving feast. In the popular mind, the two groups are synonymous. In the story of the […]
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Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations
By JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press DALLAS (AP) — More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas continues to fascinate. President-elect Donald Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding […]
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Portsmouth history comes alive at Butts Hill Fort Tour
History enthusiasts and community members are invited to a unique tour of Butts Hill Fort on Saturday, October 19th, at 10:00 AM. The tour, presented as part of the “Discover Your Portsmouth” series, will feature live readings of historical documents by members of the Portsmouth Community Theater. The event, organized by the Butts Hill Fort […]
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Tiverton Library to host ‘Opening the Oyster: African American Foodways in Rhode Island, 1726-Present’
“Opening the Oyster: African American Foodways in Rhode Island, 1726-Present” will be held at the Tiverton Public Library on Tuesday, October 1, at 6:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public. The event will be held at the library on 34 Roosevelt Avenue in Tiverton, RI. “Opening the Oyster” is a presentation […]
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This Day in History – August 31, 1954: Hurricane Carol makes landfall in Newport
On August 31st, 1954, Hurricane Carol came ashore on the coast of Newport, RI with a massive surge and winds of 115 mph. In one hour, Carol destroyed 3,800 homes, sank or damaged 2,000 boats and yachts, and leveled almost all of the island’s powered and telephone lines. While the storm was less powerful than […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
This Day In History: August 31, 1881 – Inaugural US Men’s Single Tennis Championships Is Played in Newport
The inaugural U.S. National Championship took place on August 31, 1881 at the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island. In the first year of the tennis championships only clubs that were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association were permitted to enter. A Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles competition were played. The first […]
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This Day In Newport History – August 29, 1778: Battle of Rhode Island
On August 29, 1778, the First Rhode Island Infantry regiment defeated three assaults by British Troops at the Battle of Rhode Island, in Newport, Rhode Island. The First Rhode Island Infantry regiment was the first all-black unit in the United States. From Rhode Island State Archives; “The Battle of Rhode Island, also known as the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Italian Air Force jets to paint Newport skies in tricolor display
Italian Air Force jets will paint the skies over Newport with the colors of Italy’s flag today, commemorating the 500th anniversary of explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano’s landing in 1524. The Frecce Tricolori, the official aerobatic team of the Italian Air Force, will perform a historic flyover featuring nine jets trailing red, white and green smoke. […]
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PHOTOS: President John F. Kennedy Sailing In Newport on August 26, 1962
President John F. Kennedy vacationed at Hammersmith Farm in Newport on August 26th & 27th, 1962. Speaking about President Kennedy’s lifelong fascination with the sea, Jacqueline Kennedy once said; “It was really the boat that relaxed him the most. . . . It was for what getting out on a horse was for me, in the air, no phone […]
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Details on how the Newport Historical Society will transform Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House into Center for Black History
The Newport Historical Society (NHS) announced on Monday its $4.5 million Voices Campaign at the oldest surviving home in Newport, the National Historic Landmark building, the 327-year-old Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House at 17 Broadway. Alongside Senator Jack Reed, State Representatives Lauren Carson and Marvin Abney, NHS Board President Douglas Newhouse and Executive Director Rebecca Bertrand spoke about […]
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Today In Newport History: August 19, 1991 – Hurricane Bob Makes Landfall Over Newport
Hurricane Bob developed in the central Bahamas on August 16, then steadily intensified and reached hurricane status on the evening of August 17. Bob continued to strengthen during the next 48 hours, as it began an acceleration north-northeastward, paralleling the East Coast. The eye of Hurricane Bob passed over Block Island, Rhode Island at approximately […]
Posted inHistory, Things To Do
Newport Historical Society to celebrate $391,000 in federal funds for Wanton-Lyman Hazard House
On Monday, August 19, the Newport Historical Society will host U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and community partners to celebrate a $300,000 federal earmark secured by Senator Reed and a $91,260 federal Preservation Planning grant from the U.S. National Park Service for restoration of the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House. According to the Newport Historical Society, Executive Director Rebecca […]
Posted inArts & Culture
77th reading of Washington’s letter at Touro Synagogue to honor religious freedom
On August 18, Touro Synagogue Foundation will partner with Congregation Jeshuat Israel to host the George Washington Letter Reading, an event honoring our nation’s heritage of religious freedom. This year marks the 77th anniversary of the reading of the famous letter. George Washington’s 1790 letter to “To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport” was written after his […]
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246th Anniversary of the Battle of Rhode Island to be commemorated with a ‘Sunset Salute’ on Aug. 29
A musket salute and a wreath-laying ceremony will be held at Butts Hill Fort to commemorate the 246th anniversary of the Battle of Rhode Island on Thursday, Aug. 29. The ceremony, hosted by the Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee of the Battle of Rhode Island Association, will take place at 7 p.m. at the fort […]
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Archeologists find musket balls fired during 1 of the first battles in the Revolutionary War
By MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press CONCORD, Mass. (AP) — Nearly 250 years ago, hundreds of militiamen lined a hillside in Massachusetts and started firing a barrage of musket balls toward retreating British troops, marking the first major battle in the Revolutionary War. The latest evidence of that firefight is five musket balls dug up last […]
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Living history left an indelible mark in Newport with Lafayette, Rochambeau, and several re-enactors representing the French contribution to America’s independence
Costumed re-enactors took over Washington Square Park and the Colony House in downtown Newport over the weekend. Despite the dismal weather, the rain cleared up by the afternoon, allowing plenty of locals and visitors to experience living history thanks to the Newport Historical Society, National Park Service Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail, and the Alliance Française, […]
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French in Newport Weekend returns this weekend to Washington Square
The Newport Historical Society’s French in Newport–a living history weekend featuring reenactments, exhibits, and free family fun–will return to Washington Square on Saturday, July 13, and Sunday, July 14. Visitors can explore the role of French soldiers and sailors who fought for America’s independence and enjoy exciting learning opportunities like fife and drum corps performances, […]
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Juneteenth celebrates just one of the United States’ 20 emancipation days – and the history of how emancipated people were kept unfree needs to be remembered, too
Kris Manjapra, Tufts University The actual day was June 19, 1865, and it was the Black dockworkers in Galveston, Texas, who first heard the word that freedom for the enslaved had come. There were speeches, sermons and shared meals, mostly held at Black churches, the safest places to have such celebrations. The perils of unjust […]
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Rhode Island Slave History Medallions honors Juneteenth with programming and inaugural Black history walking tours in Newport
Rhode Island Slave History Medallions (RISHM) is hosting a free, family-friendly celebration of Juneteenth, the nation’s second independence day that marks the emancipation of all trafficked and enslaved people of African descent. Juneteenth is celebrated June 19 each year, but the RISHM event will be held Saturday, June 15 from 11 am to 4 pm […]
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Newport Historical Society unveils first-of-its-kind exhibit on the experiences of Black Newporters
After four long years of research and review, the Newport Historical Society (NHS) presents the exhibit “A Name, A Voice, A Life: The Black Newporters of the 17th-19th Centuries” on May 29 at 6 pm. The exhibit, located in the Historical Society, is free and open to the public through November 2024, but registration is […]
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Casting Off to The Homeport: Crew, family, & friends of the USS Yosemite return to Newport April 24 – 27
The Naval War College and the Naval Station in Newport attract young military service members for training, education, and career advancement. The Navy base has also seen a lot of crucial military history, and this April, history is returning. From April 24-27, the USS Yosemite Association, a society dedicated to the Navy ship and its […]
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50 famous firsts in US presidential history
George Washington, the country’s first president, won both of his elections unanimously, with every elector casting their vote for him. That’s a far cry from today’s bitterly contested battles. President Washington was followed in office by John Adams, the first resident of the new White House, then still called the President’s House. Presidential firsts made […]
Posted inThings To Do
‘Six Picks’ fun ideas for February School Vacation Week
Here’s our roundup of fun family activities for February vacation week. Keep the kids busy… and parents from going crazy … with these ideas for winter break around RI. Take the kids go-karting at RI Indoor Karting in Lincoln, which features a 1/3 mile track and speeds up to 45MPH. (No worries for the little ones; the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Historical Society launches new digital database to highlight Black and Indigenous history
The Newport Historical Society (NHS) is launching a new digital database that will make it easier for people to find and learn about the history of Black and Indigenous people in Newport. The project, called Voices from the NHS Archives, has been in the works for years and includes reviewing 4,000 church records, business papers, […]