Original subtitles

\h\h\h\h\h\hRHODE ISLAND. AMERICA‘S SMALLEST STATE.

ONLY 37 MILES WIDE AND 48 MILES LONG.

BUT WHILE IT MAY LACK \hTHE WIDE OPEN SPACES

OF SOME OF AMERICA‘S \h\h\hLARGER STATES,

RHODE ISLAND IS HOME \h\hTO MORE THAN 20%

OF AMERICA‘S NATIONAL \hHISTORIC LANDMARKS,

FROM THE BREAKERS

AND THE OTHER FABULOUS MANSIONS OF THE GILDED AGE,

TO SLATER‘S MILL,

WHICH USHERED IN AMERICA‘S \h\hINDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

60% OF RHODE ISLAND IS COVERED \h\h\h\hIN WOODLAND AND PARKS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO PROTECT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

A JOURNEY THROUGH RHODE ISLAND‘S BAYS AND COVES

\h\h\hREVEALS NEARLY 400 MILES OF PRISTINE TIDAL SHORELINE--

WITH AN INCREDIBLE ARRAY \h\h\h\h\hOF LIGHTHOUSES

AND EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE STORIES OF RUM RUNNERS AND PIRATES

OFF OF NEWPORT‘S ROCKY SHORES.

ALL OF THIS GLIMMERING WATER HAS ENTICED EXPLORERS AND PURITANS,

THOSE FLEEING PERSECUTION

\h\hAND THOSE SEEKING TO START A REVOLUTION.

\hRHODE ISLAND‘S HISTORY IS RICH WITH THE STORIES

OF AMERICAN PROGRESS AND AMERICAN EXCESS.

IT‘S CALLED THE OCEAN STATE,

\hAND TO SEE IT FROM THE AIR IT‘S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY.

\h\h\hGREAT SWAMP, LOCATED IN SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND,

WAS HOME TO THE FIRST RESIDENTS OF RHODE ISLAND:

THE NARRAGANSETT INDIANS.

THE NAME NARRAGANSETT MEANS

"PEOPLE OF THE SMALL, \h\h\h\hNARROW POINT,"

\hAND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE NARRAGANSETT

\h\hHAVE LIVED ON THIS LAND FOR MORE THAN 30,000 YEARS.

THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO SET FOOT

\h\h\hIN WHAT WOULD BECOME THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

WAS GIOVANNI DE VERRAZANO \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 1524.

HE ACTUALLY ARRIVED HERE \h\h\h\hON BLOCK ISLAND,

A SMALL ISLAND OFF THE COAST \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE MAINLAND.

VERRAZANO‘S LEGACY LIVES ON \h\h\h\hIN NARRAGANSETT BAY

IN THE FORM OF THIS BRIDGE, \hWHICH IS NAMED AFTER HIM.

RHODE ISLAND HAS ALWAYS HAD \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA REPUTATION

AS A FIERCELY INDEPENDENT STATE,

AND NOWHERE IS IT MORE EVIDENT \h\h\hTHAN HERE IN PROVIDENCE.

EVEN ITS STATE CAPITOL,

MODELED AFTER THE U.S. CAPITOL \h\h\h\h\hIN WASHINGTON, D.C.,

HAS A STATUE ON TOP CALLED SIMPLY "INDEPENDENT MAN."

PROVIDENCE WAS FOUNDED \h\hBY ROGER WILLIAMS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHO CAME TO THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY

TO ESCAPE THE RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE OF ENGLAND.

IN 1636, HE ARRIVED \h\hIN RHODE ISLAND,

\h\h\hWHERE HE PURCHASED LAND FROM THE NARRAGANSETT INDIANS.

HE CALLED THE NEW SETTLEMENT PROVIDENCE IN THANKS TO GOD.

WILLIAMS CREATED THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN AMERICA.

ONE OF THE CHURCH‘S \h\hMEETING HOUSES,

DATING BACK TO 1775, STILL STANDS TODAY,

AND THE CHURCH IS CURRENTLY \h\h\h\h\h\hBEING RENOVATED.

\h\hITS 185-FOOT STEEPLE WAS BUILT ON THE GROUND

\hBY SAILBOAT MAKERS IN JUST THREE DAYS.

WILLIAMS ESTABLISHED A POLICY OF RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL FREEDOM

IN HIS NEW SETTLEMENT,

AND SOON AFTER COLONISTS \h\hWITH SIMILAR BELIEFS

BEGAN TO ARRIVE IN RHODE ISLAND.

RIVERS SHAPED THE LIFE \h\h\h\hOF PROVIDENCE.

THE COLONIAL WATERFRONT \h\h\h\h\h\hWAS THE SITE

OF A THRIVING SHIPPING ECONOMY

FOR THE SO-CALLED \hTRIANGLE TRADES

OF SLAVES, RUM AND MOLASSES,

AS WELL AS THE CHINA TRADE.

SOON PROVIDENCE AND NEWPORT

WERE AMONG THE BUSIEST PORTS \h\h\h\h\hIN THE NEW WORLD.

SINCE THE PROSPEROUS DAYS \h\h\hOF THE COLONIAL ERA,

PROVIDENCE HAS SEEN ITS FORTUNES RISE AND FALL MORE THAN ONCE.

IN THE LATE MID-20th CENTURY,

\h\h\h\h\hPROVIDENCE, HOME OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN AMERICA,

\h\h\hBECAME KNOWN MORE FOR ITS CORRUPTION AND RUNDOWN FACTORIES

THAN ITS HISTORICAL \h\h\hSIGNIFICANCE.

\hBUT IN THE 1980s THAT ALL CHANGED.

\h\hJUST DOWN THE HILL FROM THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING,

WHAT WAS ONCE AN EYESORE BECAME THE CENTER OF A RENAISSANCE.

PROVIDENCE‘S WATERFRONT IS NOT \h\hTHE ONLY PART OF THE CITY

THAT HAS BEEN REVITALIZED.

\hITS HISTORIC CORRIDORS HAVE ALSO BEEN RESTORED

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THEIR REVOLUTIONARY-ERA GLORY,

BUT THAT ALMOST DIDN‘T HAPPEN.

\h\h\h\hIN THE 1950s, THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE

\hPLANNED TO RAZE AND REDEVELOP PART OF HISTORIC BENEFIT STREET,

WHICH RUNS THROUGH THIS AREA.

\h\h\h\hTHE PROVIDENCE PRESERVATION SOCIETY,

ESTABLISHED TO PROTEST \h\h\h\h\hTHE RAZING,

\h\h\h\h\h\hOFFERED UP A PLAN TO PRESERVE THE WHOLE STREET.

TODAY, BENEFIT STREET IS HOME

TO ONE OF THE LARGEST \h\h\h\hCONCENTRATIONS

OF HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE \h\h\h\h\hIN THE NATION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA FEW BLOCKS TO THE EAST OF BENEFIT STREET

SITS ONE OF AMERICA‘S OLDEST AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITIES.

\h\h\hBROWN UNIVERSITY OPENED ITS DOORS TO STUDENTS IN 1765

AND WAS THE ONLY SCHOOL \hTHAT WELCOMED STUDENTS

OF ALL RELIGIOUS PERSUASIONS.

\h\hTHE UNIVERSITY BEGAN AS RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE

BUT WAS RENAMED IN 1804

AFTER A MAN NAMED NICHOLAS BROWN GAVE WHAT, AT THE TIME,

WAS A LARGE FINANCIAL GIFT:

$5,000.

IN TODAY‘S MONEY, THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT $76,000.

\h\h\hACROSS THE STREET FROM THE MAIN QUADRANGLE AT BROWN

SITS THE JOHN HAY LIBRARY.

HAY, A BROWN ALUMNUS,

SERVED AS ABRAHAM LINCOLN‘S \h\h\h\h\hPRIVATE SECRETARY

DURING THE CIVIL WAR

\h\hAND LATER BECAME SECRETARY OF STATE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE LIBRARY HOUSES A COLLECTION OF RARE BOOKS,

\h\hINCLUDING THREE THAT FEATURE AN UNUSUAL BINDING: HUMAN SKIN.

ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS GRISLY, \h\h\h\hIN THE LATE 1800s

IT WASN‘T UNUSUAL TO BIND BOOKS WITH HUMAN SKIN FROM CADAVERS.

THIS 46-MILE-LONG RIVER \h\hHAS LONG BEEN CALLED

"THE HARDEST WORKING RIVER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN AMERICA."

THE BLACKSTONE RIVER RUNS FROM INLAND MASSACHUSETTS

\h\hTO THE NORTH END OF NARRAGANSETT BAY.

THIS IS A NATIONAL HERITAGE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCORRIDOR,

AND IT‘S HERE THAT AMERICA‘S INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION BEGAN.

\hSLATER‘S MILL STANDS AT THE FALLS OF THE BLACKSTONE RIVER.

BRITISH IMMIGRANT SAMUEL SLATER CAME TO AMERICA WITH A PLAN:

TO TAKE ENGLISH MILL PLANS AND BUILD THEM IN AMERICA.

WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND CAPITAL PROVIDED BY MOSES BROWN FROM PROVIDENCE,

\h\h\h\hSLATER BUILT THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL U.S. TEXTILE MILL.

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHAD BEGUN.

THE MILLS ON THE SITE ARE STILL POWERED BY THE BLACKSTONE RIVER.

WHILE CELEBRATED FOR BRINGING

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO AMERICA,

THE MILL WAS ALSO INFAMOUS.

SLATER EMPLOYED MANY CHILDREN \h\h\hAGES SEVEN TO THIRTEEN.

\h\h\h\h\hSOME OF LEWIS HINE‘S FAMOUS CHILD LABOR PHOTOGRAPHS

WERE TAKEN AT SLATER MILL.

HINE‘S PHOTOGRAPHS,

SHOWING HARSH CONDITIONS \h\hFOR CHILD LABORERS,

\hRESULTED IN NEW LAWS BEING CREATED TO PROTECT CHILDREN.

\h\h\h\hTODAY, SOME BELIEVE THAT THE CENTURIES-OLD MILL

\h\h\h\hIS HAUNTED BY SOME OF THE CHILDREN WHO WORKED HERE.

\h\h\hVISITORS OFTEN TALK ABOUT FEELING A PRESENCE--

\h\h\h\hESPECIALLY BY THE OLD MACHINE SHOP.

\h\hTHIS 10-FOOT-WIDE AND 50-FOOT DEEP ABYSS

IS ANOTHER RHODE ISLAND LANDMARK KNOWN FOR ITS LEGENDS.

IT‘S SAID THAT PURGATORY CHASM \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS CREATED

BY THE POWERFUL SWING \h\hOF THE DEVIL‘S AX.

\h\h\hIT‘S MORE LIKELY THAT PURGATORY CHASM WAS CREATED

BY THE FORCE OF THE SEA \hWEARING AWAY THE ROCK.

\hIT‘S CARVED NEARLY 100 FEET INTO THE SHORE FROM THE CLIFF.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE UNWISELY \hTRIED TO JUMP THE CHASM,

INSTEAD FALLING BETWEEN THE GIANT SLABS OF ROCK.

LIKE THE RIVERS THAT SHAPED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE EARLY LIFE

OF PROVIDENCE AND PAWTUCKET,

NARRAGANSETT BAY IS THE LIFEBLOOD

OF THE TOWNS THAT SURROUND IT.

IN THE EAST BAY IS BRISTOL,

AN UNPRETENTIOUS COASTAL TOWN \h\h\h\h\hESTABLISHED IN 1680.

\hTHE LAYOUT OF THE CITY IS BASED ON A GRID PLAN

WITH A LARGE COMMON \h\h\hAT ITS CENTER,

THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND \h\h\h\hIN RHODE ISLAND.

BRISTOL‘S DEEPWATER HARBOR

\h\h\hHELPED IT TO BECOME A THRIVING COMMERCIAL PORT

BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION,

AND BY 1800 IT WAS THE FOURTH \hBUSIEST PORT IN THE COUNTRY.

\h\hFORTUNES WERE MADE FROM MARITIME TRADING,

WHALING AND SHIPBUILDING.

HERESHOFF BOATYARD WAS FAMOUS \h\h\hFOR THE YACHTS IT BUILT

HERE IN THE HARBOR.

SEVERAL WERE WINNERS \hOF THE WORLD CUP.

THE LARGE HOMES BUILT FOR LOCAL MERCHANTS AND SHIPBUILDERS

MAKE UP THE HEART \hOF OLD BRISTOL.

TODAY, BRISTOL HARBOR \h\h\h\hOFFERS FERRIES

TO SEVERAL ISLANDS IN THE BAY, \h\h\h\h\hINCLUDING THIS ONE,

WHICH TAKES VISITORS TO PRUDENCE ISLAND.

\hBRISTOL HAS BECOME A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR SUMMER HOMES.

\h\hSO HAS ITS NEIGHBOR TO THE SOUTH, JAMESTOWN.

JAMESTOWN STILL RETAINS MUCH \h\hOF ITS AGRICULTURAL FEEL

WITH EXTENSIVE OPEN FARM FIELDS

AND EVEN A STILL FUNCTIONAL \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWINDMILL.

THE JAMESTOWN WINDMILL \hPOWERED A GRAIN MILL

FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS.

\h\h\h\hIN 1912, IT WAS GIVEN TO THE JAMESTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

\hTHAT HAS MAINTAINED AND RESTORED THE MILL.

IN THE LATE 19th CENTURY,

WEALTHY INDUSTRIALIST \h\h\h\hJOSEPH WHARTON

AND OTHER PHILADELPHIA QUAKERS

BUILT SUMMER HOMES IN JAMESTOWN.

WHARTON‘S HOUSE, MARBELLA,

OVERLOOKS NARRAGANSETT BAY WHERE IT MEETS THE OCEAN.

THIS AREA IS FILLED WITH STORIES OF PIRATES AND PRIVATEERS.

\h\h\h\h\hLOCAL LEGEND HOLDS THAT CAPTAIN KIDD‘S TREASURE

WAS HIDDEN HERE WHEN HE WAS IN TOWN VISITING HIS FRIEND,

PRIVATEER CAPTAIN THOMAS PAINE.

TO THIS DAY, PEOPLE \h\hSEARCH THE CAVES

\h\h\h\h\h\hAT WHAT IS NOW FORT WETHERILL STATE PARK,

HOPING TO FIND KIDD‘S BOUNTY,

BUT SO FAR NO ONE HAS SCORED.

\h\hTHIS SITE IS ALSO KNOWN FOR ITS SPECTACULAR VIEWS...

\h\hAND IS A POPULAR PLACE FOR WATCHING YACHT RACES.

\h\h\h\h\h\hUNTIL 1940, JAMESTOWN WAS AN ISLAND

\h\h\h\h\hWITH NO CONNECTION TO THE MAINLAND OF NEWPORT.

THEN THE JAMESTOWN-VERRAZANO \h\h\h\h\hBRIDGE WAS BUILT.

THE PELL BRIDGE OPENED \hTO TRAFFIC IN 1969,

CONNECTING JAMESTOWN TO NEWPORT.

\hORIGINALLY CALLED THE NEWPORT BRIDGE,

\h\h\h\h\hIN 1992 IT WAS RENAMED FOR U.S. SENATOR CLAIBORNE PELL.

BUT MOST RESIDENTS STILL REFER \hTO IT AS THE NEWPORT BRIDGE.

IT IS THE LARGEST SUSPENSION \h\h\hBRIDGE IN NEW ENGLAND.

\h\h\h\h\hJAMESTOWN ISN‘T THE ONLY RHODE ISLAND TOWN

WITH PIRATE STORIES.

\h\hIN THIS TAVERN A NOTORIOUS PIRATE

WAS ALSO A POPULAR \hBUSINESS OWNER.

THE WHITEHORSE TAVERN \h\hWAS BUILT IN 1673.

IT WAS THE MEETING PLACE

FOR THE RHODE ISLAND COLONY‘S \h\h\h\h\h\hGENERAL ASSEMBLY,

CRIMINAL COURT AND CITY COUNCIL.

AND IT WAS OWNED BY A PIRATE \h\h\h\hNAMED WILLIAM MAYES.

IT‘S ONE OF THE OLDEST TAVERNS \h\h\h\h\hIN THE UNITED STATES

AND YOU CAN STILL HAVE \hA DRINK HERE TODAY.

POSSIBLY WITH A GHOST,

SINCE MANY SAY THE WHITEHORSE \h\h\h\h\h\hTAVERN IS HAUNTED.

ANOTHER EATING ESTABLISHMENT \h\hWITH ALMOST CULT STATUS

IS FLO‘S CLAM SHACK.

\hTHERE‘S NOTHING PRETENTIOUS OR EXPENSIVE ABOUT THIS CLAM SHACK,

WHICH STARTED SERVING

TRADITIONAL RHODE ISLAND \h\hSHORE FARE IN 1936.

FROM CLAM CAKES TO CLAM CHOWDER AND STUFFED CLAMS,

FLO‘S WINS AWARD AFTER AWARD \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR ITS FOOD.

\h\hITS LUCK HASN‘T BEEN AS GOOD WITH BUILDINGS.

SINCE IT OPENED, FLO‘S BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY RUINED

FOUR TIMES BY HURRICANES.

MOST RECENTLY HURRICANE BOB \h\hWASHED IT AWAY IN 1991.

SO FAR, THE NEWEST BUILDING HAS SURVIVED NATURE‘S WRATH.

THERE IS ANOTHER BUILDING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN NEWPORT

THAT HAS SURVIVED MUCH LONGER.

\h\h\hTHE OLD STONE MILL IS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY.

THERE ARE MANY THEORIES ABOUT \h\hHOW THIS TOWER CAME TO BE.

SOME BELIEVE IT WAS BUILT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY NORSEMEN

BEFORE COLUMBUS EVER ARRIVED \h\h\h\h\hIN THE NEW WORLD.

\h\h\hANOTHER SAYS THAT THE GOVERNOR OF NEWPORT

COMMISSIONED THE TOWER \h\h\h\hAS A WINDMILL

DURING COLONIAL TIMES.

\hITS 24-FOOT HIGH WALLS ARE MADE OF FIELDSTONE,

AND ITS INTERIOR IS OPEN \h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE SKY.

\hNEW THEORIES ABOUT THE TOWER‘S ORIGINS

FILL WEBSITES AND ARTICLES.

\hBUT THE MYSTERY WILL CONTINUE ON,

BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE WHO BUILT THE OLD STONE MILL.

THE FIRST SUMMER VISITORS \h\h\hTO ARRIVE IN NEWPORT

\h\h\h\h\hWERE WEALTHY MERCHANTS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA

\hWHO TRAVELED NORTH TO ESCAPE THE SUMMER HEAT IN THE SOUTH.

WITH ITS SHELTERED HARBOR, \h\h\h\hBEAUTIFUL BEACHES,

AND AWE-INSPIRING ARCHITECTURE,

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, \h\h\hIS A SHINING GEM

ON NEW ENGLAND‘S ATLANTIC COAST.

\hTHESE SO-CALLED "SUMMER COTTAGES"

\hARE ANOTHER REMNANT FROM THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY WERE BUILT FROM THE VAST FORTUNES EARNED

BY WHAT SOME CALLED \h\h\hROBBER BARONS

AND OTHERS CALLED SAVVY BUSINESSMEN.

\h\h\h\hON THE ISLANDS ACROSS NEWPORT HARBOR,

A NEW AMERICAN ARISTOCRACY \h\h\h\h\h\hHAD BEEN BORN.

\hONE OF THE WORLD‘S MOST FAMOUS WEDDINGS

\h\h\hTOOK PLACE HERE IN SEPTEMBER OF 1953.

MORE THAN 750 GUESTS FILLED \hST. MARY‘S CHURCH TO WATCH

AS SENATOR JOHN F. KENNEDY \h\hAND JACQUELINE BOUVIER

EXCHANGED WEDDING VOWS.

AFTERWARD, 1,200 GUESTS \hATTENDED THE RECEPTION

AT HAMMERSMITH FARM,

A 300-ACRE OCEANFRONT ESTATE OVERLOOKING NARRAGANSETT BAY

WHERE JACKIE AND HER FAMILY \h\h\h\hSPENT MANY SUMMERS.

THE YOUNG COUPLE CONTINUED \h\hTO SUMMER IN NEWPORT,

AND THE CITY WAS OFTEN CALLED KENNEDY‘S SUMMER WHITE HOUSE.

EVERY SATURDAY IN THE SUMMER,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB

\h\h\h\h\hHOLDS MATCHES HERE AT THE HISTORIC 100-ACRE GLEN FARM.

NEWPORT CALLS ITSELF

"THE INTERNATIONAL POLO CAPITAL OF THE WORLD."

MATCHES HAVE TAKEN PLACE HERE \h\h\hFOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

THESE PONIES AT GLEN FARM \h\h\h\hARE TAKING A REST

\h\h\h\h\hAS THEY GEAR UP FOR ANOTHER SATURDAY MATCH

\h\h\h\h\h\hBEFORE A CROWD OF WELL-HEELED ONLOOKERS.

THERE‘S A CERTAIN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EXCLUSIVITY

\hASSOCIATED WITH POLO, AND WITH NEWPORT ITSELF.

\hBUT TODAY‘S VERSION PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE GILDED AGE.

THERE ARE FEW PLACES \h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD

WHERE THE PASTIME IS YACHT WATCHING.

\h\h\hBUT THERE WERE FEW PLACES LIKE NEWPORT IN THE GILDED AGE.

IT WAS THE COASTAL \hRESORT OF CHOICE

\hFOR AMERICAN BUSINESS MAGNATES LIKE THE VANDERBILTS AND ASTORS.

\hTHE TERM "GILDED AGE" WAS COINED BY MARK TWAIN

AND REFERRED TO THE EXTRAVAGANT DISPLAYS OF WEALTH AND EXCESS

OF AMERICA‘S SUPER RICH.

\h\h\h\h\hOTHERS CALL IT CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION.

IN NEWPORT, RENOWNED ARCHITECTS WERE DESIGNING ENORMOUS HOMES

THAT MIMICKED THE CASTLES \hAND PALACES OF EUROPE...

\h\h\hEACH FAMILY SEEKING TO ONE-UP THEIR NEIGHBORS.

THE BREAKERS IS PROBABLY \h\hTHE MOST SPECTACULAR

OF NEWPORT‘S SUMMER COTTAGES.

THIS 70-ROOM VICTORIAN MANSION,

\h\h\hBUILT BY TYCOON CORNELIUS VANDERBILT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS A SYMBOL OF THE VANDERBILT FAMILY‘S

SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL PREEMINENCE AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

VANDERBILT BUILT HIS WEALTH

\h\h\h\hIN THE RAILROAD AND SHIPPING INDUSTRIES.

TODAY MANY OF THE HOMES \h\h\h\h\hARE PRESERVED.

SOME ARE OPEN FOR TOURS.

OTHERS ARE HOTELS LIKE CASTLE HILL.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST \h\h\hMAJOR SUMMER HOUSES

BUILT ALONG NEWPORT‘S \h\h\h\h\hOCEAN DRIVE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hITS WIDE PORCHES AND SWEEPING VIEWS OF THE BAY

MAKE IT A POPULAR DESTINATION.

BEACON ROCK, NEAR OCEAN DRIVE, \h\hOVERLOOKS NEWPORT HARBOR.

BUILT FOR THE BROTHER \h\h\hOF J.P. MORGAN,

\hEVENTUALLY THE HOME WAS OWNED BY THE SCULPTOR FELIX DE WELDON

WHO IS FAMOUS FOR SCULPTING \h\h\hTHE IWO JIMA MEMORIAL

IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THIS MAGNIFICENT HOME IS RIGHT \hNEAR FORT ADAMS STATE PARK.

FORT ADAMS IS THE LARGEST \h\hCOASTAL FORTIFICATION

IN THE UNITED STATES.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE FORT \h\h\h\h\hBEGAN IN 1824

AND CONTINUED UNTIL THE MIDDLE \h\h\h\h\hOF THE 19th CENTURY.

BRITISH ATTACKS ON WASHINGTON \h\h\h\hDURING THE WAR OF 1812

INSPIRED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

TO INCREASE SECURITY \hON THE COASTLINE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE FORT HAS A LINE OF VAULTED BOMBPROOF CHAMBERS

ALONG ITS FIVE-FEET-THICK \h\h\h\h\hPERIMETER WALLS.

THE COMMANDING OFFICER‘S HOUSE, TO THE SOUTH OF THE FORT,

WAS USED IN THE LATE ‘50s

\h\h\h\h\hAS A VACATION SPOT FOR PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER.

TODAY, FORT ADAMS IS WELL KNOWN

AS THE HOME OF THE NEWPORT \h\h\h\h\h\hJAZZ FESTIVAL.

\hIT‘S BROUGHT JAZZ GREATS AND THEIR FANS TO NEWPORT

\h\h\h\h\h\hEVERY AUGUST FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMARBLE HOUSE, AN EXQUISITELY DETAILED HOME,

IS OWNED AND MAINTAINED

\h\h\h\hBY THE NEWPORT PRESERVATION SOCIETY.

BUT IT BEGAN AS THE PROPERTY \h\h\hOF ANOTHER VANDERBILT.

IN 1888, WILLIAM VANDERBILT, \h\h\h\hCORNELIUS‘S BROTHER,

GAVE HIS WIFE ALVA THE MONEY \h\h\hTO BUILD MARBLE HOUSE

AS A 39th BIRTHDAY GIFT.

\h\hSHE OVERSAW ITS DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OVER FOUR YEARS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hVANDERBILT LOVED EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURE SO MUCH

THAT SHE BROUGHT IN MORE THAN \h\h\h\h300 DIFFERENT ARTISANS

FROM ITALY TO COMPLETE \h\h\h\h\hHER ESTATE.

\hROUGH POINT WAS ONE OF FIVE HOMES

OWNED BY HEIRESS DORIS DUKE.

DUKE WAS ONLY 13 YEARS OLD

WHEN SHE INHERITED HER FAMILY‘S $80 MILLION FORTUNE.

THESE CAMELS ARE HERE IN HONOR \h\h\h\hOF THE TWO REAL CAMELS

THAT MRS. DUKE, AN ANIMAL LOVER,

\hKEPT ON HER PROPERTY WHILE SHE LIVED HERE.

DORIS DUKE DIED IN 1993.

\h\h\hMOST OF HER ESTATE WENT TO CHARITY AND TO HER BUTLER.

ROUGH POINT IS NOW OWNED BY THE NEWPORT RESTORATION FOUNDATION

AND OPEN FOR TOURS.

THROUGH THE FOUNDATION,

DUKE ALSO PRESERVED HUNDREDS OF OTHER HOUSES IN NEWPORT,

\h\hMAKING IT HOME TO ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONCENTRATIONS

OF 18th CENTURY ARCHITECTURE \h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE COUNTRY.

ADJACENT TO DUKE‘S ESTATE,

AND BACKING UP TO MANY OTHER \hBELLEVUE AVENUE MANSIONS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS CLIFF WALK, A THREE-AND-A-HALF MILE PATH

\hTHROUGH THE MAJESTIC BEAUTY OF NEWPORT‘S ROCKY SHORELINE.

\hORIGINALLY USED AS A HUNTING PATH

BY THE NARRAGANSETT TRIBE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTODAY IT‘S NEWPORT‘S MOST POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTION.

OVER THE LAST 150 YEARS,

\h\hTHE PUBLIC AND SOME ESTATE OWNERS

HAVE OFTEN CLASHED OVER ACCESS RIGHTS

BOTH ALONG THE SHORE \hAND TO THE SHORE.

\h\h\hWILLING TO DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING

TO KEEP THE COMMON PEOPLE \hAWAY FROM THEIR PALACES,

OWNERS HAVE BUILT WALLS AND FENCES,

PLANTED BUSHES AND TREES \h\h\hTO BLOCK ACCESS--

AND POSTED DOGS AND EVEN BULLS \h\h\h\hTO SCARE PEOPLE AWAY.

\h\h\hBUT THE PATH IS A PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY OPEN TO EVERYONE.

WHILE THE WEALTHY WEREN‘T ABLE \h\h\h\hTO KEEP THE RIFF RAFF

OFF OF CLIFF WALK,

THEY WERE MORE SUCCESSFUL \h\h\h\hAT BAILEY‘S BEACH.

\h\h\h\h\hTHIS BEACH IS RESERVED FOR PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN PEDIGREE

AND TAKING A SWIM HERE IS BY INVITATION ONLY.

\h\h\hJUST HAVING MONEY ISN‘T ENOUGH IN NEWPORT.

\hONE MUST HAVE LONG LINES OF ESTABLISHED SOCIAL BACKGROUND.

THIS MANSION WAS HOME

TO THE UNDISPUTED QUEEN \h\hOF AMERICAN SOCIETY.

\h\hCAROLINE ASTOR INSISTED THAT HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY

MRS. ASTOR."

HER HOME HERE, CALLED BEECHWOOD, WAS BUILT IN 1853.

WHEN HER HUSBAND, WILLIAM ASTOR, BOUGHT THE ESTATE IN 1881,

IT BECAME THE SOCIAL CENTER \h\h\h\hOF NEW YORK SOCIETY.

WILLIAM WAS THE GRANDSON \h\hOF JOHN JACOB ASTOR,

THE GERMAN IMMIGRANT \h\hWHO MADE HIMSELF

THE RICHEST MAN IN AMERICA

THROUGH FUR TRADING \h\hAND REAL ESTATE.

\h\h\h\hAS RECENTLY AS 1999, JOHN JACOB ASTOR WAS LISTED

AS THE FOURTH WEALTHIEST \h\h\h\h\hAMERICAN EVER.

BILL GATES WAS FIFTH.

\h\hTHE FAMILY PRESIDED OVER COUNTLESS SOCIAL OCCASIONS,

INCLUDING THEIR FAMOUS \h\h\h\h\hSUMMER BALL.

\h\h\hMRS. ASTOR RETIRED FROM SOCIAL LIFE IN 1906

AND DIED TWO YEARS LATER.

ASTOR‘S SON, JOHN JACOB IV, \h\hDIVORCED HIS FIRST WIFE

AND MARRIED A MUCH YOUNGER WOMAN IN A CEREMONY AT BEECHWOOD.

TO ESCAPE THE SCANDAL,

THE COUPLE FLED TO EUROPE \h\h\h\hAFTER THE WEDDING.

THEY BOOKED THEIR PASSAGE HOME \h\h\h\h\hON THE RMS TITANIC.

ASTOR‘S YOUNG PREGNANT WIFE \hSURVIVED, BUT HE DID NOT.

\h\h\h\h\hAND ASTOR WASN‘T THE ONLY NEWPORT RESIDENT

ON THE SHIP THAT FATEFUL DAY.

MIRAMAR, THE SUMMER HOME

\h\hFOR GEORGE WIDENER AND HIS WIFE ELEANOR,

WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN 1912

WHEN THE WIDENER FAMILY \h\hSAILED FROM ENGLAND

ON THE MAIDEN VOYAGE \h\hOF THE TITANIC.

MRS. WIDENER SURVIVED,

\h\hBUT BOTH HER HUSBAND AND SON HARRY PERISHED.

\h\h\hMIRAMAR, SPANISH FOR "BEHOLD THE SEA,"

STAYED IN THE WIDENER FAMILY.

\hIN 2006, THE MANSION SOLD FOR JUST OVER $17 MILLION--

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE MOST EVER PAID FOR A PROPERTY ON THE ISLAND.

THE LEAST PAID MIGHT HAVE BEEN \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THIS MANSION,

\h\h\hSET ON A ROCK IN NARRAGANSETT BAY.

\h\hIT‘S RUMORED THAT J.S. LOVERING WHARTON

\h\hBUILT HIS HOME ON A ROCK SO NO ONE COULD BOTHER HIM.

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS \h\h\h\hWERE SKEPTICAL

THAT THE HOUSE COULD EXIST HERE,

OR THAT THE OWNER WOULD STAY IN IT.

BUT WHARTON SPENT EVERY SUMMER \hHERE UNTIL HE DIED IN 1938.

\hHIS WIFE REMAINED HERE UNTIL HER DEATH IN 1941.

FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS, THE HOUSE STOOD EMPTY,

WHEN ARCHITECT HENRY WOOD BOUGHT THE HOME IN 1961 FOR $3,600.

HE‘S OWNED IT EVER SINCE.

WHILE THE CORPORATE GIANTS \h\hOF THE INDUSTRIAL AGE

HAVE LONG SINCE LEFT NEWPORT,

THE TECHNOLOGY TITANS \hOF THE 20th CENTURY

HAVE ARRIVED HERE ALONG WITH \h\h\hHEDGE FUND MANAGERS--

NOT AS CONSPICUOUSLY, THOUGH,

\hUNLESS YOU HEAD TO NEWPORT HARBOR.

CONSIDERED TO BE AMERICA‘S \h\h\hYACHT RACING MECCA,

\h\h\hTHE PLAYTHINGS OF TODAY‘S RICH AND FAMOUS

ARE ON DISPLAY AT THE MARINAS \h\h\hTHAT LINE NEWPORT HARBOR

ALONG AMERICA‘S CUP AVENUE \h\h\h\hAND THAMES STREET.

\h\hFROM BOWEN AND BANNISTER‘S WHARFS

TO THE VERY EXCLUSIVE \h\hNEWPORT SHIPYARD,

WHERE THEY ARE SAID TO NOT JUST HAVE YACHTS, BUT MEGA-YACHTS.

\h\hNEWPORT IS CONSIDERED THE SAILING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

THE AMERICA‘S CUP,

THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS REGATTA \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND MATCH RACE

IN THE SPORT OF SAILING,

WERE HELD HERE UNTIL 1983.

BUT NEWPORT STILL HOSTS

BOTH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REGATTAS HERE.

THE ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF WATER

ISN‘T ONLY A SOURCE OF PLEASURE FOR RHODE ISLANDERS;

IT‘S ALSO AN IMPORTANT PART \h\h\h\hOF THE ECONOMY HERE.

THE UNITED STATES NAVY

SAW THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THIS AREA

\h\hAND CREATED AN EXPERIMENTAL TORPEDO STATION ON GOAT ISLAND,

SEEN HERE JUST OFF THE MAINLAND.

80% OF THE SUBMARINE TORPEDOES

MANUFACTURED FOR WORLD WAR ONE \h\h\h\h\h\hAND WORLD WAR TWO

WERE MADE HERE.

A THRIVING FISHING INDUSTRY

\h\h\hDEVELOPED HERE IN THE 19th CENTURY

AND CONTINUES TODAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hGALILEE IS A WORKING FISHING VILLAGE IN NARRAGANSETT.

\hTHE OCEAN WATERS OFF THE COAST ARE EXPOSED TO WARM WATER EDDIES

\h\h\h\hTHAT BREAK OFF FROM THE GULF STREAM,

BRINGING WITH THEM WHALES, \hSHARKS, TUNA AND MARLIN.

\hSPORT FISHING IS VERY POPULAR HERE.

BUT MORE THAN JUST FISH \h\h\h\h\h\hCAN BE FOUND

UNDER THESE BEAUTIFUL \h\h\h\h\hBLUE WATERS.

\h\h\h\h\hNOT SURPRISINGLY, RHODE ISLAND‘S ROCKY SHORES

HAVE MORE SHIPWRECKS \h\hPER SQUARE MILE

THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

\h\hLYING DEEP BENEATH THESE PRISTINE WATERS

ARE MORE THAN 2,000 WRECKS,

\h\h\h\h\hINCLUDING COLONIAL TRADING SHIPS, SHIPS OF WAR

AND LUXURY PASSENGER VESSELS \h\h\hFROM THE 19th CENTURY.

\h\h\h\h\hAND IT SEEMS THAT LIGHTHOUSES ALONE

AREN‘T ENOUGH TO PREVENT \h\h\h\hTHESE DISASTERS.

IN 2006 RESEARCHERS DISCOVERED \h\hTHE REMAINS OF FOUR SHIPS

\h\h\h\h\hSUNK BY THE BRITISH DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

IN NEWPORT HARBOR.

\h\hSCHOLARS BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE SHIPS WAS THE LORD SANDWICH,

ORIGINALLY NAMED THE ENDEAVOR,

\h\h\h\hWHICH WOULD HAVE DWARFED THESE SMALLER VESSELS WITH EASE.

\hCAPTAIN JAMES COOK SAILED THE ENDEAVOR

\h\hON HIS FAMOUS VOYAGES ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO NEW ZEALAND AND THE EASTERN COAST OF AUSTRALIA.

\hA SERIES OF LIGHTHOUSES HAVE BEEN BUILT ON NARRAGANSETT BAY

TO KEEP SEA TRAVELERS SAFE.

\h\hONE OF THE FIRST WAS ON POINT JUDITH

AT THE BAY‘S ENTRANCE.

AT ONE TIME THIS POINT SAW MORE SHIP TRAFFIC

THAN NEW YORK HARBOR.

ON ONE INFAMOUS NIGHT IN 1896,

FIVE VESSELS RAN AGROUND HERE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hDURING A STORM.

NOW THE LIGHTHOUSE IS AUTOMATED

\h\h\hAND IT SHARES THE PROPERTY WITH A U.S. COAST GUARD STATION.

\h\hNOW RHODE ISLAND HAS 21 LIGHTHOUSES.

\h\h13 OF THEM ARE ACTIVE AND THE OTHERS ARE PRIVATELY HELD,

LIKE NAYATT POINT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUILT IN 1828 TO MARK THE NARROW CHANNEL

\h\h\hBETWEEN NAYATT POINT AND THE REEF OFF CONIMICUT POINT,

THIS LIGHTHOUSE WAS POORLY BUILT

\hAND NEEDED REPAIRS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

IT WAS AUCTIONED OFF IN 1890 \h\h\h\h\hTO PRIVATE OWNERS.

SINCE THAT TIME THE LIGHTHOUSE \h\hHAS BEEN GREATLY EXPANDED

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IS USED AS A PRIVATE RESIDENCE.

THE NAYATT POINT LIGHTHOUSE

\hIS LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES,

\h\h\h\hAND IN 2001 SOLD FOR NEARLY $1.3 MILLION.

BUILT INTO THE CLIFF FACE,

CASTLE HILL LIGHTHOUSE \h\h\hWAS LIT IN 1890

AFTER YEARS OF NEGOTIATION WITH THE PROPERTY‘S OWNER.

FINALLY, THE OWNER RELENTED

\h\h\h\h\hAND SOLD THE LAND TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR ONE DOLLAR.

ALTHOUGH NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THE LIGHTHOUSE IS ACCESSIBLE

\h\hTO GUESTS OF THE NEARBY CASTLE HILL INN AND RESORT.

THE LIGHTHOUSE HAS A RED LIGHT

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT FLASHES ABOUT EVERY EIGHT SECONDS AT NIGHT.

\h\h\hIMAGINE SAILING IN COMPLETE DARKNESS--

THE ONLY SIGHT A SMALL RED LIGHT FLASHING EVERY EIGHT SECONDS.

IT COULD BE YARDS OR MILES AWAY.

CONANICUT LIGHTHOUSE SITS \h\h\hON THE NORTHERN TIP

OF CONANICUT ISLAND.

IT WAS ACTIVATED IN 1886.

\h\h\h\hTHE TOWER IS ATTACHED TO THE WOOD-FRAMED KEEPER‘S HOUSE.

BY THE 1930s THERE WAS NO LONGER ENOUGH SHIP TRAFFIC

\h\h\h\hTO JUSTIFY HAVING A MANNED LIGHTHOUSE HERE.

IT WAS DEACTIVATED

\hAND THE BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY WERE SOLD AT AUCTION FOR $2,874.

\h\h\hTODAY THE STATION IS A PRIVATE RESIDENCE.

ONLY ONCE IN AMERICA HISTORY

HAS A LIGHTHOUSE BEEN NAMED \h\h\h\h\hAFTER ITS KEEPER,

AND THIS IS WHERE IT STOOD.

IN 1854 HOSEA LEWIS WAS NAMED INNKEEPER

OF THE LIME ROCK LIGHTHOUSE.

SOON HE SUFFERED A STROKE,

AND HIS DUTIES FELL TO HIS WIFE AND THEIR OLDEST DAUGHTER, IDA.

IDA HANDLED MOST OF THE WORK HERE

AND, WHEN HER MOTHER ALSO DIED, IDA BECAME THE LIGHT KEEPER.

\h\h\hSHE ALSO BECAME KNOWN AS THE BRAVEST WOMAN IN AMERICA,

ENDURING THE ICE-COLD WATER

\hTO RESCUE THOSE STRANDED ON THE ROCKS OR DROWNING.

SHE IS CREDITED WITH SAVING \h\h\h\h\hAT LEAST 18 PEOPLE

DURING HER TIME HERE.

\hTHE RHODE ISLAND STATE LEGISLATURE

\hCHANGED THE NAME OF THE LIGHTHOUSE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM LIME ROCK TO THE IDA LEWIS LIGHTHOUSE.

\h\h\h\hTODAY IT‘S THE SITE OF THE IDA LEWIS YACHT CLUB.

THE ROSE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE \h\hSITS ON A SMALL ISLAND

\h\h\h\hTHAT WAS USED FOR MILITARY PURPOSES

FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR \h\hTHROUGH WORLD WAR TWO.

THE ISLAND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

EXCEPT FOR ONE PART \h\h\hOF THE SUMMER

\h\hWHEN IT BECOMES A SANCTUARY FOR NESTING BIRDS--MOSTLY GULLS.

WHEN THE LAST FERRY LEAVES,

\h\h\hTHE ISLAND IS OFF LIMITS EXCEPT FOR A VERY FEW PEOPLE.

WHEN THE LIGHTHOUSE \h\h\hBECAME RUNDOWN

DUE TO DECAY AND NEGLECT,

\h\hTHE ROSE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION CAME TO ITS RESCUE.

\h\hTHE FOUNDATION CAME UP WITH A FUNDRAISING PLAN--

THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER \h\h\h\h\hOF THE WEEK.

\h\hFOR A SMALL PRICE, GUESTS CAN SERVE AS HONORARY KEEPERS.

THE JOB IS INVOLVED.

THE HONORARY KEEPS MUST DO EVERYTHING

FROM DUSTING THE WINDOWSILLS

TO KEEPING THE LIGHT BURNING \h\h\h\h\hTHROUGH THE NIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\hIT MAY SOUND LIKE AN ODD VACATION,

BUT IT‘S WILDLY SUCCESSFUL,

AND USUALLY FULLY BOOKED \hTWO YEARS IN ADVANCE.

ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE \h\h\h\h\hLIGHTHOUSES

IS ON THE NORTHERN END \h\hOF A SMALL ISLAND

ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY AIR OR WATER.

BLOCK ISLAND.

A STARK CONTRAST TO THE OPULENT PLAYGROUNDS OF NEWPORT,

BLOCK ISLAND RESIDENTS PREFER \h\h\h\hJUST TO BE LEFT ALONE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO A GLACIER LEFT THE ROLLING HILLS

THAT WERE TO BECOME KNOWN \h\h\h\h\hAS BLOCK ISLAND.

DUTCH EXPLORER ADRIAN BLOCK \h\h\h\hARRIVED HERE IN 1614

AND GAVE THE ISLAND ITS NAME.

BOAT WRECKS HAPPENED OFTEN HERE GIVEN THE ISLAND‘S POSITION

AND THE ROCKY SHOALS \hTHAT SURROUND IT.

A LIFE-SAVING STATION WAS PUT IN

AS WELL AS LIGHTHOUSES

ON THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN \h\h\h\hENDS OF THE ISLAND.

\h\h\hSINCE BLOCK ISLAND HAS NO NATURAL HARBORS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 1870, BREAKWATERS WERE CREATED TO FORM OLD HARBOR

AND GIVE STEAMERS AND FERRIES \h\hSAFE ENTRY TO THE ISLAND.

TODAY, FERRIES SHUTTLE VISITORS

TO THE OLD HARBOR FROM THE MAINLAND.

IN 1895, ANOTHER CHANNEL WAS DUG

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO CREATE NEW HARBOR ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE ISLAND.

IT CONNECTS THE GREAT SALT POND TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

ARCHEOLOGISTS BELIEVE \h\h\hTHAT WHEN HUMANS

FIRST BEGAN TO SETTLE \h\h\hIN THE NORTHEAST

THEY CAME HERE AND CREATED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hA SETTLEMENT

AROUND GREAT SALT POND.

THESE PEOPLE WERE THE ANCESTORS OF THE MANISSEAN INDIANS.

TODAY, PLEASURE BOATERS \h\h\hCOME FROM ALL OVER

TO ENJOY THE POND‘S \hSHELTERED WATERS.

ON A SUMMER DAY AS MANY AS 2,000 BOATS CAN FILL THE POND,

AND SEVERAL MARINAS \h\hLINE THE HARBOR

TO WELCOME THEIR VISITORS.

AS IN MANY NATURAL PLACES, THERE‘S AN ONGOING DEBATE

\hON HOW TO PRESERVE THE ISLAND‘S BEAUTY

WHILE ALSO BENEFITING \h\h\h\hFROM TOURISM.

CONSERVATIONISTS SEE THE BOATS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS A THREAT

TO THE POND‘S FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWHICH IS PART OF A NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.

ALTHOUGH BLOCK ISLAND \h\h\hIS ONLY 12 MILES

OFF RHODE ISLAND‘S COAST,

IT‘S A WORLD OF ITS OWN.

\hTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY INCLUDED THE TINY ISLAND

ON A LIST OF 12 SITES IT CALLED "THE LAST GREAT PLACES"

IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

\h\hHOME TO RESTORED VICTORIAN HOTELS...

BEAUTIFUL BEACHES...

\h\h\h\h\hAND A FRAGILE BUT THRIVING ECOSYSTEM--

\h\h\hISLANDERS HERE WANT TO KEEP THINGS

JUST AS THEY ARE--IDYLLIC.

SO WHEN A PAIR OF NEW YORK \h\hREAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS

WANTED TO DIVIDE THE ISLAND UP \h\h\hAND FILL IT WITH HOUSES,

\h\h\h\h\hLIFELONG RESIDENT CAPTAIN JOHN ROBINSON LEWIS

WAS INTENT TO STOP THE PLAN.

HE ORGANIZED HIS NEIGHBORS

TO CREATE THE BLOCK ISLAND \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCONSERVANCY

\h\h\hAND ULTIMATELY BOUGHT BACK THE LAND

THE DEVELOPERS WERE PLANNING \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO PARCEL OUT.

THE CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN ACTIVE ON THE ISLAND EVER SINCE.

NO TASK IS TOO LARGE \h\h\hOR TOO SMALL.

IN THE ‘90s,

\h\hTHEY LITERALLY MOVED THIS HISTORIC SOUTHEAST LIGHTHOUSE

BACK 245 FEET FROM THE CLIFFS

TO KEEP THE COAST GUARD \h\hFROM DEMOLISHING IT.

AND, IN 1984, THEY THREATENED \h\h\hTO SECEDE FROM THE STATE

\h\h\h\h\h\hIF THE USE OF MOPEDS WASN‘T RESTRICTED ON THE ISLAND.

THEY GOT THEIR WAY.

\h\h\hCONSERVATION HAS A LONG TRADITION HERE.

\h\hFROM ITS PONDS, BEACHES AND BLUFFS,

\hMORE THAN 43% OF THE ISLAND IS PROTECTED FROM DEVELOPMENT.

\h\hSEVERAL OF RHODE ISLAND‘S OTHER SMALL TOWNS AND ISLANDS

ARE MOVING TOWARD CONSERVATION

AND LIMITING NEW DEVELOPMENT \h\hTO PRESERVE OPEN SPACES.

ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE \h\hSMALL IN SIZE,

\h\h\hRHODE ISLAND‘S HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN AMERICA IS HUGE.

FROM ROGER WILLIAMS‘ IDEAS ABOUT FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS THOUGHT,

\hWHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE CONSTITUTION,

TO THE COLONIAL ERA INFLUENCES,

THE START OF THE INDUSTRIAL AGE AND THE GILDED AGE--

THIS TINY STATE PACKS A LOT OF HISTORY INTO ITS BORDERS.

\h\h\h\h\hCOMBINED WITH THE BREATHTAKING VISTAS

AND THE INDEPENDENCE, \h\h\h\h\hSTILL TODAY,

OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE,

\h\h\h\hRHODE ISLAND IS A TINY GLEAMING TREASURE

ON AMERICA‘S EAST COAST.