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