"paulapes's new Rhode Island Page " a Rhode Island Travel Page by paulapes

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The smallest state in the Union, Rhode Island has made history through the courage and convictions of its citizens. It was one of the 13 original colonies, settled by religious refugees under the leadership of Roger Williams, who had been banished from the neighboring Massachusetts Bay Colony. More liberal in its views than most of the other colonies, Rhode Island was host to the first Baptist church, the first Jewish synagogue, and one of the first Quaker meetinghouses.

In what is considered the first act of outright violence against the British Crown before the American Revolution, Providence townspeople burned a British customs vessel that had run aground while pursuing a suspected smuggler in Narragansett Bay. After the Revolution began, the colony declared its independence from Britain two months before the official declaration was signed. To symbolize the spirit of the state, a statue of 'The Independent Man' stands atop the State Capitol in Providence.

Rhode Island is the second most densely populated state. Its people and industries make some of the most valuable products in the United States. As far back as 1790, Rhode Island's short, swift rivers were supplying power for grist and textile mills. Its textiles, costume jewelry, fine silverware, electronic equipment, rubber, and plastics supply world markets.

Because Narragansett Bay reaches far into the heart of the state, Rhode Island has an especially long coastline. The huge ocean frontage and the warming effects of the Gulf Stream give the state a pleasant climate, which, coupled with the great scenic beauty of the bay and offshore islands, creates a popular summer resort.

Rhode Island has been a seafaring state since colonial times. The Newport Naval Base and the Naval Construction Battalion Center (Seabees) at Davisville carry on the state's important nautical traditions. International yacht races are held in Narragansett Bay, and small pleasure boats of all sorts share the deep water with warcraft.

The state's full official name is State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. This name dates from 17th-century colonial times and is derived from the large island (Rhode, or Aquidneck, Island) in Narragansett Bay and from Providence, the state's first settlement. Some historians think the name probably came from the Dutch roodt eylandt (red island), referring to the red clay shores. Another version of the origin of the name is that the explorer Giovanni da Verrazano compared Block Island to the Greek island of Rhodes. Little Rhody, a popular nickname for Rhode Island, reflects its size. Today the more common nickname is the Ocean State.

For more information on Rhode Island history and statistics, go to this website: http://visitrhodeisland.com/index.html

Another website for local information and stories is http://www.riroads.com

Above are the State symbols....and no, I don't know why we have a chicken for the State bird!! :-)

IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING REALLY UNIQUE TO RHODE ISLAND, CHECK OUT MY "MR. POTATO HEAD" TRAVELOGUE!!