Explore Rhode Island’s Rich History

Meredith Ewenson walks the Revolutionary War Trail in Providence, Rhode Island, with sites including the Stephen Hopkins House, John Brown House Museum and more.

Meredith Ewenson walks the Revolutionary War Trail in Newport, Rhode Island, with sites including the White Horse Tavern, Hunter House and more.

In 1793, Samuel Slater built America's first water-powered textile mill–right in Pawtucket. That moment helped spark the Industrial Revolution in the U.S. and transform how the nation worked.

The 1st Rhode Island Regiment broke barriers in the Revolutionary War as the first predominantly Black unit in the Continental Army.

Explore The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House to discover how Rhode Island became a playground for the elite.

From the Gaspee Affair to declaring freedom before the rest, Rhode Island's revolutionary roots run deep.

Pirates, shipwrecks and haunted legends once ruled Block Island. Today, its peaceful trails and historic lighthouses tell a different story.

In 1636, Roger Williams founded Providence Plantations on radical principles—religious freedom, separation of church and state and equality.