Wrapping up the original 13 colonies, National Rhode Island Day on October 5 recognizes the last colony to join the Union.

Persecuted for his beliefs in Massachusetts, Roger Williams established the Rhode Island colony in 1636 at Providence seeking religious and political freedom.

While the colony was the first to renounce British rule, Rhode Island was the only state absent from the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Rhode Island delayed signing the Constitution, preferring the addition of a bill of rights. It wasn’t until the Constitution was ratified by nine previous states and the threat of taxation on her exports that Rhode Island finally ratified the document and became the 13th state.

Textile industry boomed in the mid-1800s after Samuel Slater founded the first textile mill in Pawtucket 1790. Rhode Island made producing cloth into a lucrative national and export business.

Official Rhode Island

State Capital – Providence
State Rock – Cumberlandite
State Drink – Coffee Milk
State Nickname – The Ocean State
State Motto – Hope
State Fish – Striped Bass
State Mineral – Gold
State Tree – Red Maple
State Flower – Violet
State Appatizer – Calamari
State Song – Rhode Island It’s for Me
State Marine Mammel – Harbor Seal
State Bird – Rhode Island Red
State Insect – American Burying Beetle

Lawn tennis has been a long-held pastime by Rhode Islanders and is clearly part of the fabric of their history. The National Lawn Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum was founded in 1954 by Jimmy Van Alen at the Newport Casino. The location in Newport, Rhode Island held the first U.S. national championship for tennis in 1881.

Despite being the smallest state, the Ocean State jams over 400 miles of coastline in its 1212 square miles. With numerous public and private beaches, Rhode Island ocean views and adventure abound.

Rhode Island Art, Nature & History

ART – NATURE – HISTORY
Rhode Island State National Parks & Historic Sites, http://www.riparks.com, http://www.nps.gov.,
Blackstone River Valley,
Roger Williams National Memorial,
Goddard, Memorial State Park, East Greenwich,
Lincoln Woods State Park, Lincoln,
Colt STate Park, Bristol,
Pulaski State Park and Recreational Area, Chepachet,
Fishermen’s Memorial State Park, Narragansett,
Beavertail State Park, Jamestown,
Fort Wetherill, Jamestown,

MUSEUMS,

Providence Children’s Museum, Providence,
John Brown House, Providence,
Museum of Work and Culture, Woonsocket,
Naval War College Museum, Newport,
Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Providence,
Slater Mill Historic Site, Pawtucket,
National Museum of American Illustration, Newport,
Herreshoff Marine Museum, Bristol,
Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum, Exeter,
International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport,
Coggeshall Farm Museum, Coventry,
Hidden Treasures,
Green Animals Topiary Garden, Portsmouth,
Grave of Mercy Brown, Exeter,
Belcourt Castle, Newport,
Little Neck Cemetary, East Providence,

Hidden Treasures

Green Animals Topiary Garden – Portsmouth
Grave of Mercy Brown – Exeter
Belcourt Castle – Newport
Little Neck Cemetary – East Providence

Notable People

Nathanael Greene – Revolutionary War General – (August 7, 1742 – June 19, 1786)

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Christiana Carteaux Bannister – Abolitionist – (1820 – 1902)

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Annie Smith Peck – Mountaineer – (October 19, 1850 – July 18, 1935)

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Nap Lajoie – Athlete – (September 5, 1874 – February 7, 1959)

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H.P. Lovecraft – Author – (August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937)

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Sarah Whitman – Poet – (January 19, 1803 – June 27, 1878)

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Don McGregor – Comic Book Writer – (June 15, 1945 – )

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Norm Abram – Carpenter – (October 3, 1949 -)

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Rhode Island Flavor

Calamari
Clam Chowder
Clam Cakes
Hot Wieners
Pizza Strips
Studies
Donut Cake
Johnny Cakes
Steamers
Doughboys

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalRhodeIslandDay

Join us as we recognize Rhode Island’s industry, beauty and history. Explore her shores and find out more about her people. There is much to see! Use #NationalRhodeIslandDay to share on social media.