Since its establishment in 1789 by the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court has seen 17 chief justices, and 116 justices in total. Many landmark cases have passed through the Supreme Court of the U.S. (SCOTUS), having set precedents and changed the fabric of society. Stacker compiled an account of the educational and professional history […]
History
Posted inArts & Culture, History
Where US first ladies went to college
Harvard. Princeton. Yale. These elite alma maters ooze a sense of ambitious intellect—and yet several women alumni who went on to become residents at the White House are remembered more for their fashion sense, flair for interior design, or holiday decorating. Despite the fact they are unelected officials, the wives of American presidents wield enormous […]
Posted inArts & Culture
This Day in RI History: April 2, 1952, Lynyrd Skynyrd Bassist Leon Wilkeson is born in Newport
Musician Leon Wilkeson was born on April 2, 1952, in Newport, RI. He grew up in Jacksonville, FL and went on to become the main bass player in the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd in the 1970s, the heydey of the band. Wilkeson was originally recruited by Ronny Van Zandt to play in the Van […]
Posted inHistory
VIDEO: ‘The Real Story’ behind The Old Stone Mill in Newport
There are many stories and many theories circling about the ever-popular and mysterious rock structure in Touro Park at the top of the hill bordering Bellevue Avenue in Newport. Known as the Old Stone Mill (also referred to as the Newport Tower) some theories date back to the days of Vikings. Many historic groups, individuals, […]
Posted inArts & Culture, History, Things To Do
Lecture on March 23 will spotlight Newport’s first Irish mayor, Patrick J. Boyle
The Museum of Newport Irish History announces the fifth and final talk in its 20th Annual Michael F. Crowley Lecture Series, to be presented “virtually,” via Zoom, and in-person, at the Wayfinder Hotel, on Wednesday, March 23 at 6:00 p.m. Guest speaker, Steve Marino, local historian and tour guide, will present a lecture with Q&A to follow […]
Posted inHistory
Portsmouth group forms non-profit to spotlight Rhode Island’s role in the Revolutionary War
As the U.S. and Rhode Island prepare for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, a new non-profit organization based out of Portsmouth has been formed to spotlight the role of Rhode Island in the War for Independence. The Battle of Rhode Island Association (BoRIA) shares in a press […]
Posted inHistory
Rhode Island Slave History Medallions receives $10,000 grant from Rhode Island Foundation
Newport-based Rhode Island Slave History Medallions is among nonprofits across the state that will share $105,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation through its Black Philanthropy Bannister Fund. Created in 2007, the fund supports the needs of the state’s Black community. Rhode Island Slave History Medallions will receive $10,000 to expand its Marking the Landscape […]
Posted inOpinion
Just my Opinion: Remembering the Blizzard of ‘78
This story was originally published on February 5, 2018, it has been republished because of its historical significance. The predictions were far less than the outcome. As the storm was forming 44 years ago on February 5, 1978, it was supposed to be heavy, ending on the evening of Feb. 6. It didn’t. It went […]
Posted inHistory
Celebrate Black History Month with virtual learning opportunities
The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Black Affinity Group has prepared a special calendar of virtual events and resources in celebration of Black History Month. These events include virtual sessions that share Black history, achievements and perseverance in various contexts. Although it is common to focus on slavery, segregation and other forms of oppression during Black […]
Posted inHistory
Has Captain Cook’s ship Endeavour been found? Debate rages, but here’s what’s usually involved in identifying a shipwreck
John McCarthy, Flinders University The Australian National Maritime Museum has announced a shipwreck found in Newport Harbour, off Rhode Island in the United States, has been confirmed as Captain Cook’s ship, HMB Endeavour. There have been very similar announcements made over the years but have they finally made a definitive case? By making its announcement, […]
Posted inArts & Culture, History, Things To Do
Samuel Slater Experience announces Grand Opening March 4
[Webster, MA, January 26, 2022] –The Samuel Slater Experience, a historic museum featuring state-of-the-art 4-D digital technology to tell the story of Samuel Slater, the beginnings of the American Industrial Revolution, and the founding of Webster, Massachusetts in the early 19th century, announced today it will be opening its doors to the public on Friday, March 4, 2022 […]
Posted inWeather
Why we’ll never experience a storm like the “Blizzard of ’78” again
The Blizzard of ’78 was a touchstone event for Rhode Islanders who experienced it. We were all impacted in some way, whether stuck on the highway and forced to abandon our cars, trapped at work or school for several days, or shoveling out neighbors who couldn’t open their front doors due to high snowdrifts. We […]
Posted inHistory, Sports
Athletes from Rhode Island who’ve competed in Winter Olympic Games
With the XXIV Olympic Winter Games scheduled to start in Beijing on February 4th, we take a look back on Rhode Islanders who’ve competed in the Olympic Winter Games of years past. Marissa Castelli and her former partner, Simon Shnapir, atop the medal podium at the 2013 U.S. Championships. Source: Wikipedia Marissa Castelli Sport: Figure Skating […]
Posted inHistory
Reflections on Martin Luther King Day 2022
“The time is always right to do what is right.” I entered Kindergarten in the Fall of 1968 at the newly renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School, a school that continues to educate a diverse population in the Mount Hope neighborhood in Providence. King had been assassinated the previous Spring, and the school took […]
Posted inHistory
This Day in RI History: November 4, 1928 – Poet Hannah Weiner is born
Poet Hannah Finegold Weiner was born in Providence on November 4, 1928. Weiner became a well-known writer in the 1960’s, part of the avant-garde Language Poet movement. Weiner graduated from Classical High School in 1946 and went on to Radcliffe College, class of 1950 (magna cum laude), where she wrote a dissertation on Henry James. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
History in the Making: George Wein, Newport Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement
Note: In 2015, Lifestyle Editor Ken Abrams prepared this piece for the Newport Jazz Festival blog. We’re re-posting an edited version today in honor of the late George Wein. Daily headlines remind us that the nation is still struggling with its legacy of slavery, prejudice, and discrimination. The Newport Jazz Festival (along with its sister […]
Posted inArts & Culture, History, Things To Do
Upcoming lecture will explore shared Irish and African Heritage experience in Gilded Age Newport
The Museum of Newport Irish History has announced the first talk in its 20th Annual Michael F. Crowley Lecture Series, to be presented “virtually” on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. Dr. John Quinn and Mr. Keith Stokes will present a talk entitled, “Shared Spaces: The Irish and African Heritage Experience in Gilded Age […]
Posted inHistory
On This Day In Newport History – September 9, 1957: President Eisenhower signs Civil Rights Act of 1957 while in Newport
On September 9, 1957 while in Newport, President Dwight Eisenhower signed the first workable civil rights legislation to be passed since the reconstruction period. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 is known as the first federal civil rights legislation passed by the United States Congress since the Civil Rights Act of 1875. Its purpose was to show the federal government’s support […]
Posted inHistory
This Day in RI History: September 5, 1874 Nap Lajoie born in Woonsocket
Baseball Hall of Famer Napolean Lajoie was born on September 5, 1874 in Woonsocket, RI. His family moved to the area from Canada to work in the mills, first settling in Vermont and later in Woonsocket where Lajoie was born. As a youth, he had very little schooling and worked in a textile mill where […]
Posted inHistory, News
Graves of Fallen French Revolutionary Soldiers to be honored with an unveiling ceremony at Trinity Church on September 10
The National Park Service will hold a special public ceremony to unveil the grave markers of two fallen French soldiers of the American Revolution. According to Johnny F. Carawan, Trail Administrator for the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, the ceremony will take place at Trinity Church in Newport on Friday, September 10 from 2:00 […]
Posted inHistory
Restoration of Butts Hill Fort begins
By Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee The first step on the road to celebrating the restoration of Butts Hill Fort was taken today. Carl Viveiros of CJ Viveiros Landscaping spent the day on his ground shark brush cutter clearing vegetation within the Fort. “I’m proud to be working on this project,” Carl said, referring to […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Benjamin Franklin’s fight against a deadly virus: Colonial America was divided over smallpox inoculation, but he championed science to skeptics
Mark Canada, Indiana University Kokomo and Christian Chauret, Indiana University Kokomo Exactly 300 years ago, in 1721, Benjamin Franklin and his fellow American colonists faced a deadly smallpox outbreak. Their varying responses constitute an eerily prescient object lesson for today’s world, similarly devastated by a virus and divided over vaccination three centuries later. As a […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Gravestones to return to Newport
By Lew Keen, Chair of Newport Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission Twenty-five years ago, Professor Ron Onorato engaged his students at the University of Rhode Island to return slate gravestones to Newport that had found their way to other locations. 14 stones were not returned and served as an important study collection for many students interested […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Art Museum to present ‘Scandalous Conduct | 1919 Newport’
Newport Art Museum will present Scandalous Conduct | Newport 1919 on Thursday, June 24, 2021 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Interdisciplinary artists Jason Tranchida and Matthew Lawrence will give a fascinating talk, uncovering a little-known facet of Naval culture in 1919 Newport. Focused on the US Navy’s use of musical theater as a marketing tool, they’ll also touch on the […]
Posted inNews
Photo Gallery: “Boots on the Ground” returns to Fort Adams State Park
Operation Stand Down Rhode Island’s “Boots on the Ground” is on display at Fort Adams State Park for Memorial Day weekend. The display honors over 7000 Americans who have given their lives during the ongoing Global War on Terror. The memorial will be open to the public Sunday until 8PM and Monday from 8AM to […]