“The time is always right to do what is right.” I entered kindergarten in the Fall of 1968 at what was then the newly rechristened Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, a school that continues to educate a diverse population in the Mount Hope neighborhood in Providence. King was assassinated the previous Spring, and […]
History
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This Day in History: January 9, 1948 – Bill Cowsill born in Middletown
Singer, songwriter, and producer William Joseph Cowsill Jr. was born on January 9, 1948 in Middletown, RI. Bill Cowsill was the eldest of seven siblings from the Newport-based family band The Cowsills, and also performed as a solo artist and produced several Canadian bands over the course of his career. Based in Newport, The Cowsills […]
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Discovering the history of Newport: A guide to the city’s street names and landmarks
Photo: Boston Public Library, Norman B. Leventhal Map Center The streets and landmarks of Newport are filled with stories from over 300 years of history. From the founders and heroes to the early settlers, the names of these streets and landmarks pay tribute to the rich history of this city. While this is just a small […]
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First Attested Black Mutual Aid Society in Nation Was Formed in Newport on November 10, 1780
Photo: Peter Bours house (47 Division Street), Location of AUS as early as 1781 On November 10, 1780, the African Union Society (AUS) of Newport, Rhode Island was established. It was the first attested Black Mutual Aid Society. Former slaves, including Newport Gardner and Pompe (Zingo) Stevens, were two of the leaders in creating the AUS. In […]
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‘Wild Weather’ exhibit opens at Rhode Island’s State Archives
Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore and the Rhode Island State Archives today announced the opening of a new Archives exhibit titled Wild Weather. Wild Weather tells the story of how Rhode Island has prepared for, reacted to, and recovered from weather-related impacts dating as far back as colonial times up to and including recent years. The […]
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This Day in Newport History: September 23, 1971 – Sean Spicer is born
Sean Spicer, best known as the embattled Press Secretary for President Donald Trump was born on September 23, 1971. Born in Manhasset, New York, Spicer grew up on the East Bay where his parents worked. He attended Portsmouth Abbey School and later graduated from Connecticut College in New London, CT. After graduating college, Spicer worked […]
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Jim Garman to discuss hurricanes during Portsmouth Historical Society lecture on Sept. 21
Aquidneck Island has been subjected to a number of devastating hurricanes since colonial days. Portsmouth Town Historian Jim Garman will talk about what it was like in the aftermath of the ‘38 and ‘54 hurricanes on the 85th anniversary of the 1938 hurricane. This lecture will include numerous photographs showing the serious damage done to […]
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Extensive restoration of Rosecliff nearing completion
One of the most extensive and complicated projects in the history of the Preservation Society of Newport County is nearing completion. On September 1, Rosecliff will reopen to visitors for the first time since January 2, providing a sparkling setting for the exhibition “The Celestial City: Newport and China,” and, later in September, the Newport […]
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This Day in RI History: August 7, 1742 -Nathanael Greene born in Potowomut
American Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene was born on this day in 1742. Greene grew up in the Potowomut section of Warwick and later moved to Coventry where he operated his family’s foundry. Before the Revolutionary War broke out, Greene organized a local militia known as the Kentish Guards. Once the War began, he was […]
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40+ fun facts you might not know about Newport
Newport has a long history filled with firsts and unique accomplishments. From its early days as a colonial capital to its modern-day status as a cultural hub, Newport has always been a place of significance in the United States. One of the oldest structures in Newport is the White Horse Tavern, which has been in […]
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Repairs underway to restore shattered gravestone of local Steamboat Lexington survivor
Providence, RI – It was January 1840 when the steamboat Lexington, commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, burned and sank in Long Island Sound. Of the up to 150 passengers and crew on board, only four survived. The incredible survival story was that of second mate David Crowley, a Providence native, who drifted on a cotton bale […]
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On This Day in RI History: July 3, 1878 – Composer George M. Cohan is born
American icon George M. Cohan was born on July 3, 1873. Cohan was a playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and producer during his 50+ year career in entertainment. Cohan came from a musical family – his parents were traveling vaudeville performers and Cohan joined them in a family act called “The Four Cohans.” He […]
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Today In History – July 3, 1969: Newport Jazz Fest Experiments With Rock Music
The Newport Jazz Festival experimented with rock music for the first time on July 3, 1969. The festival’s 1969 program was an experiment in fusing jazz, soul and rock music and audiences. Its lineup included, besides jazz, Friday evening appearances by rock groups Jeff Beck, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Ten Years After and Jethro Tull. Saturday’s schedule mixed jazz acts […]
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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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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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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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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 […]
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Famous speeches from every US president
Presidential speeches have been an invaluable part of U.S. democracy since Washington’s inaugural address on April 30, 1789. While much of the oral tradition has remained unchanged, the evolution of mass communication has turned speeches into conversations. Using historical documents, government and political science websites, and news articles, Stacker curated a gallery of famous speeches […]
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20 of the strangest natural phenomena in America
As the fourth-largest country in the world, the United States has a vast assortment of picture-perfect natural scenery to flaunt. From the Alaskan Tundra to the Gulf of Mexico, Niagara Falls to the Hawaiian Islands, the contrasts between the 50 American states and five territories are fascinating and sometimes enigmatic. Geological, physical, chemical, and biological […]
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Portsmouth to celebrate Founders’ Day on March 7 with a showing of the original 1638 Compact and 1776 Southwick Copy of Declaration of Independence
The Portsmouth Historical Society has arranged a public viewing of the original founding document, the 1638 Portsmouth Compact, with the RI State Archives to commemorate its signing. The 385-year-old precious document, one of the oldest and most important documents in the State Archives, will be transported with a police escort to and from the Portsmouth […]
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60 historic photos from American military history
On the world stage, as a leading military superpower, America has been involved in wars and conflicts to protect or ensure American values and democracy, as well as the sovereignty of other nations, and to support allied governments whose own conflicts bear on global peace. Each U.S. military branch—from the Army and Marine Corps to […]