Canoes
Indian dugouts, Colonial canoes and pinaces
Water transportation
Indian dugouts, Colonial canoes and pinaces
Transports people/goods 28 miles — Providence to Pt. Judith
Leading center of colonial trade and hub of the international triangular trade importing African slaves
Providence opens trade with China and East India in 1787
Small commercial and passenger craft date to 1820
Major passenger carrier of the steam power era
Seven lines to NYC, Maine and the South
Operating from colonial times to 1970, service recently re-established from Providence to Newport
Early roads & canals
Natives laid out passageways still in use today
Road to Pequot, Queen’s highway (1702), Ten Rod Rd
1784–1842. General Assembly grants charters to 46 toll road corporations. Providence is hub with 360 stage coaches per week
Built by Irish veterans of Erie Canal. Origin of irish population.
Railroad industry
Boston & Providence, first run in 1835 Providence & Stonington
NY, Providence & Boston NY, New Haven & Hartford Providence & Worcester, began 1847 is revived & still running Hartford, Prov. & Fishkill Early RI lines
Providence welcomes 300 trains per day in 1900
Link with shipping lines at India Pt.
Heart of Providence/urban design shaped by railroads and terminals. Providence RR lands are key to modern day renaissance.
Railroad that died at sea goes down with the Titanic
Regional link
Steamships
Pre-Fulton steamboat is built/tested in RI in 1792
The Bay’s first commercial steamboat sets sail in 1817
Driven by paddlewheels to propellors, passenger vessels of the Fall River Line and others steam along for more than a century
Promoting international connections
Providence becomes a locus of international immigration
Trolley transportation
Transition from stage coaches to omnibuses
Horse drawn vehicles crowd the roadways
Electric trolleys begin their run on wires in 1893 and advance the opportunity of commuting
Trolley lines extend community connections
Evolution of today’s mass transit
Automobile transportation
Bicycle enthusiasts (1880s) promote better roads
Cars appear in the 1890s and by 1913 there are 100 RI companies in the automobile business
State roadbuilding begins with 1902 bond issue. Speed laws by 1908.
ALCO and Maxwell-Brisco manufacture cars
Street cars out of business by 1920. Trucks replace branch railroads.
“Re-cycle”
Aviation
First “state” airport established in 1931 with regularly scheduled flights in 1936. Becomes TF Green
RI company pioneers seaplanes and aeronautical industry at close of WWI
TF Green Airport reconstructed in 90s as key asset to the tourism industry