The sacred sea
Native traditions portend the environmental movement
Bay Adventure
The Vision of the New Golden Land
Bay reflections
Refugio
Caravel explorations and the vision of Verrazano
“A Garden of Farms & Place of Great Trade”
Early life along the Bay
The special light
The Bay changes the way artists see our world
Inspiration
The Bay becomes an inspiration to, and theme of, the Hudson River School of painters and countless other artists
Whale Tales & Fish Stories
RI fishing
Confluence of climates
Warm and cold ecosystems intersect in RI Sound to enhance fishing
Fishing fleets
The toil and traditions of Pt. Judith and others
Whale Tales
The whaling days of Warren, East Greenwich and coastal RI
Trophies and tuna
The history of RI sport fishing
Bull rakes to clambakes
Lobster, littlenecks and the shellfishing industry
Fishy business
Seaside commerce, Scalloptown and the economics of fishing
Boat Yard Celebration
RI shipbuilding & maritime industry
Colonial shipyards
Early shipbuilding in Warren and other coastal communities
East Indiamen
Grand ships of the glamorous trade including the legendary Ann and Hope
Work boats
The shipyards and ferry operations of the Saunders family and others
Pleasure craft & Cup winners
America’s Cup champions and the legacy of the Herreshoff/Haffenreffer boatbuilders
The tradition endures
Modern day boat builders such as Pearson, Goetz and Blount
Every bay business
Marinas, tugs, ferries, etc.
Deep, dark waters
The Bay’s dark side from pirates to rum runners
Military vessels
A proud tradition that continues with EB submarine production
Defending the Nation
The Navy and national defense
Navy notables
Ezek Hopkins becomes first Navy commander in chief. The Perrys and Stephen Luce help write US naval history.
The Navy at Newport
The War College, torpedo station, base and enduring strategic and research efforts.
RI at War
20th Century World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts create unprecedented military activity and production on the Bay.
Peace without prosperity
Tens of thousands lose jobs as national defense downsizing reduces closes facilities at Quonset Point/ Davisville and scales back Newport operations.
RI’s Playground
Recreation, sport and leisure
America’s first resort
From colonial days, RI and its waters have attracted visitors from afar
Bay Parade
Recreational sailing brings together crews and crafts of every style and means in the Bay’s public waters
America’s Cup
RI harbors the world’s finest and fastest sailing vessels.
Mansions and castles
Newport’s Bellview Avenue becomes one of the world’s most prestigious addresses
Clamming, clambakes and shore dining halls
From its beginnings, clams are at the heart of RI shoreline activities and development
The Beach
Ever the summertime magnet, the Bay shoreline evolves from a destination of excursion boats, amusement parks, tent camps & Victorian hotels to a paradise of public lands and beaches
Eye on the Storm
Storms and shipwrecks
Hurricane!
From the Great Gale of 1815 to storms with names like Carol, Diane and Bob.
The Big One
The unforgettable Hurricane of ’38
Blizzards
The snows of ’78 and ’88 live on in weather history
Beacons of the Bay
The story of lighthouses, lifesaving and the legend of Ida Lewis.