Rhode Island Amusement Parks brings back the memories of a time less complicated than the present, when a sense of family held communities together.

Rhode Islanders were once able to enjoy amusement parks without traveling far; the state was home to several ocean front parks as early as the mid-18th century, with some of them surviving into the late 19th century. Photographers Rob Lewis and Ryan Young have embarked on a journey to discover the amusement parks of the past in this delightful and unprecedented collection of images. View the parks that provided a recreational outlet for so many Rhode Island families and the visitors who frequented them. Scenes from several neighboring Massachusetts amusement parks are also pictured. The images in this collection are from two large private archives as well as treasured family collections. Special highlights include photographs of hand-operated rides of the 1800s and views of President Taft's plane, which landed at Sandy Beach in 1911. Also featured is Vanity Fair, an amusement park that lasted only five years during the first decade of this century. Residents of these communities will enjoy seeing Rhode Island as it once was and will witness the changes it has endured over the years.

The 20th century can truly be said to have America's century.

As the nation reached its position among the world powers, American towns and cities changed at an unprecedented pace. As we grow further away from these times, we strive harder to preserve these fading memories for ourselves and the generations who come after us. The American Century series documents and celebrates our most recent history--featuring images of faces and places which were taken within living memory and yet that already seem to belong to a long-past era. Enter the Keyport of the 20th century, a small borough in New Jersey that may not seem very important today, but holds the nickname "Pearl of the Bayshore. '?