Newport, Rhode Island

Look left! You're about to pass one of the most incredible houses in America, designed by the legendary architects McKim, Mead, and White. This isn't just any old mansion; it's the Isaac Bell House, a masterpiece of…

Get ready to glimpse into the Gilded Age; you're approaching The Elms, a monument to extravagant wealth, sometimes called a 'summer cottage' with a healthy dose of sarcasm. Coal baron Edward Julius Berwind commissioned…

Right here, at Ida Lewis Rock Light, you're standing near the former home of a true American hero. Ida Lewis, then known as Idawalley Zoradia Lewis, moved to Lime Rock with her family in 1857 when her father became the…

Prepare to be transported back to an era of unimaginable wealth and extravagance! Ochre Point showcases the opulent summer 'cottages' of America's wealthiest families during the Gilded Age. At the heart of this historic…

Imagine Gilded Age extravagance: this $4.5 million mansion was built in 1892. Ochre Court was commissioned by Ogden Goelet. He hired architect Richard Morris Hunt, the same architect who designed The Breakers, Marble…

Home to the U.S. Naval War College since 1884, the oldest institution of its kind in the world, where naval strategy and international law are studied.

Prepare to be amazed by a house that changed American architecture! This is the William Watts Sherman House, designed by the legendary H.H. Richardson in 1875. Later, Stanford White, another architectural giant,…

Get ready to be transported back to the Gilded Age, where unimaginable wealth built summer palaces right here in Newport. Bellevue Avenue became *the* place for America's elite to escape the city heat in the late 1800s…

Pull over here for a second; this building is where modern naval strategy was practically invented! Luce Hall, completed in 1892, was the Naval War College's first dedicated building. It's named after Rear Admiral…

Step back into the Gilded Age at one of the first grand mansions on Bellevue Avenue. You're approaching Chateau-sur-Mer, a place that truly kickstarted Newport's era of opulent excess. Built between 1851 and 1852, this…

Largest coastal fortification in the United States, built between 1824 and 1857 to guard the entrance to Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor.

Ever wonder where the Navy’s top brass go to think? You’re near it: the Naval War College. Established in 1884 by Stephen B. Luce, the college aimed to provide advanced instruction in naval warfare and strategy. Tasked…

This massive coastal fortification, named for President John Adams, has guarded Newport Harbor since 1799. Originally built as a First System coastal fortification, Fort Adams was named in honor of then-President John…

Seventy-room Italian Renaissance palazzo built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, the grandest of Newport's Gilded Age mansions.

Imagine sailing into Narragansett Bay, the Rose Island Light a welcome beacon after a long voyage. This lighthouse has been a guide for mariners since 1870. It was built atop the remains of Fort Hamilton, constructed…

Step back into the Gilded Age at Rosecliff, a Newport mansion where extravagance was an art form! This isn't just any old house; it was the ultimate summer playground for Theresa Fair Oelrichs, a silver heiress whose…

Rosecliff was built for a woman who threw the most extravagant parties Newport had ever seen, which is saying something in a town defined by extravagance. Theresa Fair Oelrichs, known as Tessie, was the daughter of a…

Three-and-a-half-mile public walkway along Newport's eastern shore, offering views of Gilded Age mansions on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

Get ready to be amazed by the sheer opulence of Marble House, a summer 'cottage' that redefines luxury. Built between 1888 and 1892 for Alva and William Kissam Vanderbilt, this Bellevue Avenue mansion was designed by…

William K. Vanderbilt gave Marble House to his wife Alva as a thirty-ninth birthday present in 1892. It cost eleven million dollars, seven million of that spent on 500,000 cubic feet of marble imported from Italy and…

Designed for Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, this mansion whispers tales of Gilded Age extravagance. Belcourt was built as a summer cottage on Bellevue Avenue, a place to spend only a few weeks each year. Construction…

Imagine cannons booming across Narragansett Bay – this very spot was strategically vital for defending Rhode Island's coastline for over a century. Construction of Fort Wetherill began in the late 1890s, replacing…

Driving Ocean Drive is like stepping back in time to an era of immense wealth and stunning coastal landscapes. This isn't just a pretty road; it's a carefully crafted vision of how the wealthy wanted to live during…

Ever wonder where influential thinkers went to clear their heads? This is it. Here, in 1729, the Irish philosopher Dean George Berkeley bought a modest farmhouse. He wasn't just looking for a quiet place to write. He…

This unassuming field holds centuries of strategic importance, controlling access to Narragansett Bay. During the American Revolution, local militia threw up earthen defenses here to protect against the British. Then,…

This lighthouse has warned ships away from the rocky shores of Dutch Island since 1827! Back then, Narragansett Bay was a busy place, and navigating these waters could be tricky. A light here was essential for guiding…

Beavertail sits at the southern tip of Conanicut Island in Jamestown, where Narragansett Bay meets the open Atlantic, and it has been guiding ships since 1749, making it the third-oldest lighthouse site in North…

This lighthouse has guided ships into Narragansett Bay since 1856. For centuries, mariners needed a reliable beacon here on Conanicut Island. Before the current structure, wooden towers stood watch, but they were often…

Ever wonder how they built that little lighthouse way out in the water? That's Plum Beach Light, and it was built in 1899 using some pretty cool engineering. They used something called a pneumatic caisson. Basically,…

That little sparkplug out there, Sakonnet Light, almost vanished forever, a victim of one of New England's most destructive storms. Built in 1884, it dutifully guided ships around Sakonnet Point for seventy years. But…

Right here, beneath the waves, lie the remains of two British warships deliberately sunk during the American Revolution. In 1778, the HMS Cerberus and HMS Lark, along with two other British vessels, found themselves…

Ever wonder who painted the George Washington on your one-dollar bill? You're near his birthplace! Gilbert Stuart was born right here in Saunderstown, Rhode Island. Born in 1755, Stuart showed artistic talent early. He…

Green Animals sits on a seven-acre estate in Portsmouth overlooking Narragansett Bay, and it contains the oldest topiary garden in the United States. Thomas Brayton, a cotton mill treasurer from Fall River, bought the…

Ever wonder what life was like for Rhode Island mill workers? This preserved village offers a glimpse into that past. In 1853, the Hamilton Mill was built here, later expanding in 1866. Around it grew a community of…

Right here, on this very land, American forces clashed with the British in a fight that would test the mettle of a new nation. August 1778, the Battle of Rhode Island raged across these fields. American and British…

These iconic stone towers are all that's left of a glamorous casino that once defined Narragansett Pier. It was the place to be! The Narragansett Pier Casino, a sprawling Victorian resort, opened in the 1880s. It…

Imagine a time when shipwrecks were a constant threat off this coast – that's why this building matters. In 1888, at the height of Narragansett Pier's popularity, this station was built to rescue those stranded at sea.…

The stone arch spanning Ocean Road at Narragansett Beach is all that remains of what was once one of New England's grandest resort casinos. The Narragansett Pier Casino, designed by the legendary firm McKim, Mead and…

Check out Poplar Point Light, guiding ships into Wickford Harbor since way back in 1831! Back then, they built a stone house for the lighthouse keeper and topped it with a wooden tower. This light helped boats navigate…

Ever wonder what life was like for early colonists in Rhode Island? Smith's Castle offers a fascinating glimpse into that past. Originally established as a trading post by Richard Smith in 1638, it became a central hub…

This unassuming lighthouse witnessed a century of maritime activity on Narragansett Bay. Bristol Ferry Light, built in 1855, guided ships safely through these waters, especially the ferry that ran between Bristol and…

Navigate the treacherous waters where Narragansett Bay meets Block Island Sound, guided by the historic Point Judith Light. This point marks a critical juncture for ships, but its waters have always been known for their…

These walls have seen more than their fair share of Bristol's history. This is the Bristol County Jail, built right here on Court Street. The jail as it stands today was constructed in the mid-1840s, between 1846 and…

Point Judith juts into the Atlantic at the southwestern corner of Narragansett Bay, and the waters around it have wrecked ships for centuries. The currents where the bay meets the open ocean create confused seas that…

For over a century, Warwick Light has been a steadfast beacon, guiding ships safely through Narragansett Bay. Construction began in 1826, and the lighthouse was first lit in 1827. It replaced an earlier, less effective…

Imagine being hunted, your home destroyed, and desperately needing a safe place. That's the story of Queen's Fort. Before 1676, this rocky hill was likely a refuge for Queen Quaiapen, a leader of the Narragansett tribe,…

Bristol, Rhode Island, has been celebrating the Fourth of July longer than any other town in America. The tradition started in 1785, just two years after the Revolutionary War ended and four years before George…

You're near a spot connected to a remarkable man: Paul Cuffe. Though the house here isn't actually his, the land is linked to his legacy. Paul Cuffe (1759–1815) was a successful African American and Native American…

Pull over for a peek into the Gilded Age at the Aldrich Mansion! This opulent estate was once the summer home of Senator Nelson Aldrich, a powerful figure in Rhode Island politics. Aldrich, a Republican, developed the…

Check out that building! It's the Armory of the Kentish Guards, a reminder of Rhode Island's long history of independent military organizations. The Kentish Guards were first chartered in 1774, and have served in…

Imagine a world without instant communication. That was life before the Massie Wireless Station. Built in 1907, this unassuming building in Point Judith, Rhode Island, played a pivotal role in early wireless…

Coggeshall Farm sits on Colt State Park in Bristol and re-creates the daily reality of a Rhode Island coastal farm in the 1790s. This is not a mansion or a monument. It is a muddy, working farm where staff in period…

Imagine plotting revolutionary strategy right here! This is the General James Mitchell Varnum House, home to a key figure in the fight for American independence. Built in 1773, the house became the residence of James…

Pull over here for a second; you're looking at one of the oldest houses in Rhode Island! It's a survivor from the earliest days of colonial life. This is the Clement Weaver–Daniel Howland House, built all the way back…

Check it out, that's Charlton Mill! This 1911 textile mill was the last stone mill built in Fall River and the first to feature a new fireproof design. Built in 1911, it represents the tail end of Fall River's dominance…

Look to your right, you're passing the historic King Philip Mills – a reminder of Fall River's glory days as a textile powerhouse. Construction on the King Philip Mills began in 1871. Over the next two decades, the…

This 1872 bleachery played a crucial role in the textile industry, processing fabrics from the surrounding mills. The Fall River Bleachery was constructed in 1872. It bleached and finished cotton cloth produced by the…

These two historic textile mills showcase the evolution of cotton yarn manufacturing in Fall River. The Globe Yarn Mills company was incorporated in 1881 to produce cotton yarns. William J. Jennings was the first…

Three years before Lexington and Concord, Rhode Islanders committed one of the boldest acts of rebellion in colonial history right here in the shallow waters off Warwick. HMS Gaspee was a British revenue schooner tasked…

On December 19, 1675, in a frozen swamp in South Kingstown, a colonial militia of about a thousand men attacked a fortified Narragansett winter camp. The Narragansett had tried to stay neutral in King Philip's War, the…

Imagine life in Rhode Island over 300 years ago – you're driving past a piece of it right now. This is the Samuel Clarke Farm, anchored by a house built around 1691, making it one of the oldest surviving homes in the…

Ever wonder what life was like for the thousands who powered Fall River's mills? This is Corky Row, a historic district offering a glimpse into that world. Built primarily between the 1840s and 1880s, Corky Row housed…

Hold on, you're near a place that once churned out miles of cotton cloth! This is Cornell Mills, built back in 1890. Cornell Mills was a major cotton textile mill, part of the booming industry that defined Fall River.…

These unique red brick mills were a major textile producer in the late 19th century. In 1867, the Davol Mills complex was built here in Fall River, and expanded in 1871. These mills churned out textiles, contributing to…

Keep your eyes peeled for a quirky sight! Borden Flats Light, a 'sparkplug' lighthouse, has been a beacon on the Taunton River near Fall River since 1881. This unusual lighthouse was built because increased shipping…

This spot embodies Fall River's booming textile industry of the late 19th century. Named for its first president, John Flint, the Flint Mills company was established in 1872. The original mill, built that same year,…

This 1866 cotton mill stands as a testament to Fall River's textile boom. The Tecumseh Mill No. 1 was built in 1866, part of a larger complex that significantly contributed to Fall River's identity as a major textile…

Right here, you're looking at the oldest textile mill still standing in Fall River, a key piece of the city's industrial heritage. Back in 1847, Colonel Richard Borden built the Metacomet Mill to churn out cotton…

Built from native Fall River granite, this 1888 textile mill stands as a testament to the city's industrial heritage. Hargraves Mill No. 1 opened in 1888. Reuben Hargraves, for whom the mill is named, was the company's…

On the morning of August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were killed inside their home at 92 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts. The only person indicted for the murders was Andrew's thirty-two-year-old daughter…

On the sweltering morning of August 4, 1892, someone took a hatchet to Andrew Borden and his wife Abby in this house on Second Street in Fall River. Andrew was struck eleven times while napping on the sofa. Abby had…

This spot was once the heart of Fall River's booming textile industry. The Durfee Mills complex began its life in 1866, growing steadily until 1904. It became the largest and most architecturally impressive mill complex…

This unassuming building played a key role in Fall River's textile boom! Built in 1872, the Crescent Mill, later known as Merchant Mill No. 3, was a major cotton textile producer. It was constructed during a period of…

Ever wonder where Fall River got its nickname, "Spindle City"? This spot is a big part of that story. In 1911, Pilgrim Mills was built right here on Pleasant Street. What made it special? It was the first textile mill…

You're near a spot that helped power Fall River's rise! Union Mills was the first large steam-powered mill in the city. Incorporated in 1859, Union Mills was a big deal. Before this, Fall River mills mostly used water…

Right there, that's the USS Massachusetts, also known as 'Big Mamie,' a World War II battleship with a heck of a story. Launched in 1941, she saw action in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Most notably, in…

Take a good look at that submarine, the USS Lionfish! It played a vital role in the Pacific during World War II. Commissioned in 1944, the Lionfish conducted patrols targeting Japanese shipping and naval vessels. She's…

Step aboard a floating time capsule, the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., a destroyer with a story etched in steel and sacrifice. This ship isn't just a museum; it's a memorial to a family and a generation. Launched in 1945,…

Step back in time and imagine yourself on a daring mission in the Pacific! You're near PT-796, one of the few remaining patrol torpedo boats from World War II. Built in 1945 by Higgins Industries, PT-796 is a 78-foot…

Step aboard, virtually, PT-617, a rare surviving Elco PT boat that saw heavy combat in World War II. This 80-foot Elco type boat, nicknamed 'Big Red Cock' and 'Dragon Lady', is the same type as the PT-109 commanded by…

See that imposing stone church? Central Congregational played a role in one of America's most enduring mysteries: the Lizzie Borden axe murders. The Borden family were prominent members here. Andrew Borden, Lizzie's…

Get ready to witness the heart of Fall River's textile boom! Stafford Mills stands as a reminder of a time when this city was a global powerhouse in fabric production.Founded in 1872, Stafford Mills quickly became a…

Originally located at the site of the old Fall River Superior Courthouse, this house has witnessed the evolution of the city's legal history. Judge Thomas Durfee owned the Lafayette-Durfee House, estimated to have been…

Step back in time as you drive through the Lower Highlands, one of Fall River's oldest residential neighborhoods. This area tells the story of Fall River's transformation from a small village to a booming industrial…

Pull over for a second and check out this house – it's one of Fall River's best examples of Second Empire architecture! It was built in 1875 for David M. Anthony, a local businessman. The house is a great example of the…

Prepare to be transported back to a time of grand ambition and architectural splendor! This house, the William Lindsey House, is a testament to the wealth and aspirations of Fall River's merchant class in the mid-19th…

Pull over and step back in time at Al Mac's Diner! This isn't just a place to grab a burger; it's a perfectly preserved slice of classic Americana. Built in 1953, Al Mac's is a shining example of those iconic stainless…

This unassuming building holds the key to understanding early Quaker life in Southeastern Massachusetts. Built in 1791, the Apponegansett Meeting House is the oldest Quaker meeting house in the region. For over 300…

Ever wonder what fueled Fall River's textile boom? Take a look at Mechanics Mill! This grand building went up in 1868. It was built during a time when Fall River was rapidly expanding as a textile manufacturing center.…

Stop and pay your respects at this ancient burial ground, a place where the echoes of Rhode Island's Native American history still resonate. For centuries, this small plot of land has served as the final resting place…

Built in 1690, this is the oldest documented building in Swansea, offering a rare glimpse into early colonial life. The Benjamin Cole House was built by Benjamin Cole, a prominent figure in early Swansea. He was a…

This isn't just another old building; it's a survivor from Fall River's textile boom. In 1872, the Narragansett Mills sprang up, a brick giant in a city known for its stone mills. They churned out textiles, providing…

Built in 1916, this was the last textile mill constructed in Fall River, marking the end of an era. The Foster Spinning Co., right here on Cove Street, was built in 1916. It was a red brick building, pretty standard for…

You're approaching Sagamore Mill No. 2, a place that once echoed with the relentless rhythm of Fall River's textile industry. Built in 1881, Sagamore Mill No. 2 is the oldest surviving mill of the three built by the…

Explore the remnants of the Sagamore Mills, once a cornerstone of Fall River's massive textile industry. These mills weren't just buildings; they were the heart of a booming economy. Sagamore Mills No. 1 and No. 3,…

Hold on tight, you're about to ride a true masterpiece! This is the Crescent Park Looff Carousel, a National Historic Landmark. Built in 1895 by Charles I.D. Looff, a master craftsman, this carousel was originally the…

Imagine standing where East Providence's founders are resting – right here at Little Neck Cemetery. Back in 1655, this land was part of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, and this burial ground was established for the early…