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A fascinating pictorial history of Watch Hill, this collection of images documents this community's evolution through time.

A hundred years ago, Watch Hill was known as the ""Queen of Atlantic Resorts. "" Its once barren knoll was strewn with vast wooden hotels and open-air porticos and porches. Its snug cove, a port of entry for steamboats that ferried summer residents, was also the home port for a fleet of catboats that took passengers on daily excursions. Offering unparalleled bathing at the surf-ridden East Beach and the soft sands of Napatree Beach, Watch Hill was truly ""by the sea. "" Yet, as with many maritime venues, Watch Hill and its sister communities up the Pawcatuck River always served as year-round homes to watermen of all sorts. Whaling captains once lived in Lotteryville, party boat captains sailed down the Pawcatuck to meet passengers at the Watch Hill docks, and fishermen provided fresh fare from the river and sea. Ships were built and lives were lost, and a century of maritime industries have come and gone.

Take a trip with Larry Stanford through 350 years of Newport's hidden, dark history.

Founded by a small band of religious freedom seekers in 1639, Newport, Rhode Island, subsequently became a bustling colonial seaport teeming with artists, sailors, prosperous merchants and, perhaps most distinctively, the ultra-rich families of the Gilded Age. Clinging to the lavish coattails of these newly minted millionaires and robber barons was a stream of con artists and hangers-on who attempted to leech off their well-to-do neighbors. From the Vanderbilts to the Dukes, the Astors to the Kennedys, the City by the Sea has served as a sanctuary for the elite, and a hotbed of corruption. Local historian Larry Stanford pulls back the curtain on over 350 years of history, uncovering the real stories behind many of Newport's most enduring mysteries, controversial characters and scintillating scandals.

Bursting with delightful colors and bright illustrations, Local Baby: Rhode Island engages babies’ attention and encourages families to explore what makes the Ocean State so great.

See the Big Blue Bug, sail in Narragansett Bay, take a bike ride on Block Island, and watch the parade in Bristol. Explore your state with this joyfully grabbable and wonderfully local board book that is sure to bring generations together.

Though Rhode Island is America's smallest state, they have more than their fair share of spooky stories.

Author Rory Raven has collected stories and tales drawn from the history and folklore of one of the oldest cities in the nation. From restless spirits and mysterious deaths, to vampires and shadowy strangers, and even stories involving Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, Haunted Providenceexplores the unusual events and untold tales that have made this capital city unlike any other.

Well-illustrated and with fact-filled text, Slater Mill is a charming look back at a pivotal part of Pawtucket life.

As a working cotton mill, a space for varied types of manufacturing, and eventually as a project of historical preservation, the Slater Mill has played many roles in the history of Pawtucket. Leavitt's work includes such illuminating images as a turn-of-the-century bicycle shop, a crowded mill scene in the early twentieth century, and the transformation of the site into a tourist attraction in the 1920s. This volume also shows how the site was re-configured as a community museum in the 1950s and '60s, as well as how the industrial emphasis of the curators eventually resulted in the addition of a working water wheel to the site. Well-illustrated, with fact-filled text, Slater Mill is a charming look back at a pivotal part of Pawtucket life that will interest young and old alike.

This remarkable photographic history of Federal Hill features images of the community from the late 1800s to the mid-1960s, chronicling the arrival of immigrants from many countries over the years.

During the thirty-four year period from 1898 to 1932, more than fifty thousand Italian immigrants arrived at the port of Providence. The majority of them settled on Federal Hill, the three-hundred-acre land mass that stands high above Rhode Island's capital city. Federal Hill is a rich community in many ways. Its hard working and tenacious settlers started out with a deep and abiding faith in God. Their numerous accomplishments are evidenced today in the many thriving family-owned businesses and stunning architectural achievements so prevalent in the downtown area. Many people from around the state enter Federal Hill through the welcoming pine-cone arch for seasonal festivals or a night on the town. The vitality and hospitality of this historic area are truly cherished by many in the modern era.

This richly illustrated, Gilded Age inspired sketchbook reveals a fascinating side of a titan of American architecture alongside pages for a reader’s own expressions of beauty.

Considered the preeminent nineteenth century American architect, Richard Morris Hunt (1827–1895) designed some of the greatest landmarks of the Gilded Age such as the Vanderbilt mansions, including Biltmore, the Breakers, Marble House and more. Part of the unique milieu of Hunt’s inspiration was his devotion to the art of collecting. From fine art and jewelry to antiques and collectables, Hunt scoured Europe and America for objects of interest. He kept extensive sketchbooks of his drawings and notes that reveal not only his collecting mindset, but the ideas, aesthetics and inspirations that shaped his approach to architecture. 

Author Sam Watters presents a glimpse inside the creative mind of Richard Morris Hunt, and explores a historic and elegant world of beauty. Including pages for sketches and notes inspired by Hunt’s designs.

From pre-colonial times through World War II, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, has served as a stage for the dramatic evolution of American history.

Dispossessed citizens from the Massachusetts Bay Colony came to Portsmouth in the spirit of religious and political tolerance, paving the way for the establishment of a large Quaker settlement in town.

Revolutionary leaders such as George Washington, Lafayette, and Rochambeau visited the summer residences of wealthy Newport merchants in Portsmouth, including the home of Tory, Metcalf Bowler. During the Civil War, the Melville area of Portsmouth was the site of a hospital for wounded Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners, and was an active stop on the Underground Railroad. Prior to World War II, John F. Kennedy received his PT boat training in Portsmouth, and Raytheon has kept many employed in the defense industry ever since.

Authors Nancy Jensen Devin and Richard V. Simpson are area historians who have combined the photograph collections of the Portsmouth Historical Society with many previously unpublished images from local families' albums to produce this remarkable new photographic history of the town. Mr. Simpson is the author of Bristol in the Images of America series, and Ms. Devin is the creator of a popular multimedia presentation called The Story of the Town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The authors' affection for the area and knowledge of its history are evident in this exciting tribute to the town and the people of Portsmouth.

Although the fact is seldom recognized, Jews have been a part of the American experience since the early colonial days.

They brought to these shores skills and traditions that America has welcomed and rewarded. They have made major contributions to this country's social, scientific, and cultural fabric. Despite their small numbers, the Jews of Rhode Island can claim two governors and many lawyers, physicians, scientists, manufacturers, businessmen, artists, and educators in state history. The Jews of Rhode Island 1658-1958 is the first comprehensive pictorial history of the Rhode Island Jewish experience. It provides a broad sweep of the first 300 years of Jewish history in Rhode Island beginning with the very first Jewish settlers in Newport in 1658 and includes images of their lives in all parts of the state.

Take a walk down memory lane and experience the past of Aquidneck Island and her neighbors.

Over two hundred stunning photographs and detailed, informative captions offer a glimpse into the rich past of Newport, Jamestown, Portsmouth, and Middletown, as well as Prudence, Gould, Hog, and Rose Islands. In March of 1638, a group of Bostonians met with Roger Williams and decided to purchase the Island of Aquidneck. In the years that followed, the towns of Newport, Portsmouth, and Middletown were founded and soon became distinct components of a Narragansett Bay community. These islands have flourished into thriving coastal communities renowned for their beauty and character.

This second volume on Pawtucket celebrates its history from 1864 to 1996.

Pawtucket Volume II covers the history of the city from 1864 to 1996, and highlights the accomplishments of its citizens. Famous Pawtucket natives like singer Nelson Eddy and major-leaguer Chester ""Chet"" Nichols are spotlighted, as well as less well-known but equally significant contributors to the civic and social history of the city. Many images in this volume have been drawn from the collections of the Spaulding House Research Library, the Pawtucket Public Library, and the Times newspaper. In poring through these vast archives, authors Johnson, Wheaton, and Reed have produced two books destined to bring back memories and enliven interest in Pawtucket's fascinating past.

From the time it was separated from Providence in 1759, Johnston has grown from a sleepy, rural town into a busy urban center.

Much of the growth took place between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries, and it is this period that Louis McGowan and the Johnston Historical Society chronicle in this delight collection. Assembling more than 200 images from historical archives and the private collection of many Johnston residents, the result is a multi-faceted portrait of the town's citizens, landmarks, and historical figures. Some of the famous figures discussed include Charles Fletcher, who built or managed the three largest textile mills in Johnston; the Reverend Samuel Winsor, founder of the Six Principle Baptist congregation; James F. Simmons, the sole U. S. senator from the town, who was later forced to resign his position in disgrace; and Zenas R. Bliss, winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor and a distinguished U. S. Army officer.

The geographic heart and soul of Rhode Island is a 25-mile estuary of great beauty and ecological importance. A talented photographer teams with the offical Narragansett BayKeeper to create a remarkable gift book that is as thought-provoking as it is attractive.

An unsettling story of corruption and exploitation in the Ocean State from slave ships to politics.

Over thirty thousand slaves were brought to the shores of colonial America on ships owned and captained by James DeWolf. When the United States took action to abolish slavery, this Bristol native manipulated the legal system and became actively involved in Rhode Island politics in order to pursue his trading ventures. He served as a member of the House of Representatives in the state of Rhode Island and as a United States senator, all while continuing the slave trade years after passage of the Federal Slave Trade Act of 1808. DeWolf's political power and central role in sustaining the state's economy allowed him to evade prosecution from local and federal authorities--even on counts of murder. Through archival records, author Cynthia Mestad Johnson uncovers the secrets of James DeWolf.

Captivating and entertaining, this new collection of rare images brings to life the past of the historic Lower Blackstone River Valley.

With insightful captions and hundreds of breathtaking photographs, author Charles Edouard Savoie introduces us to many of the early residents who shaped the future of the five communities in this area. We are transported back in time to see early homes and places of work, play, worship, and education. Covering the towns of Lincoln, Cumberland, Central Falls, Woonsocket, and Pawtucket, this new volume sheds light on how the communities of the lower valley evolved from primitive agricultural settlements coexisting with Native American tribes to sprawling industrial mill villages, towns, and cities. Valley residents are profiled, including a descendant of the Indian warrior-king Philip-Metacomet, local military heroes, industrial movers and shakers, working-class people, farmers, and merchants. The people in the valley's communities are shown true to form--working,playing, and pulling together in times of crisis.

The history of Wakefield developed from a rural mill town in the nineteenth century to South County's mercantile center in the twentieth.

Using images from the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, the Peace Dale Library, and a number of private sources, local author Betty J. Cotter chronicles Wakefield's growth from the days of the horse and buggy, dairy farms, and fields to those of shopping centers and fast-food restaurants. Readers will marvel at the trees lining Main Street before a devastating hurricane and Dutch Elm disease changed the landscape forever. While much of downtown Wakefield has retained its historic character, certain locales--like Dale Carlia Corner--are barely recognizable in images from the first half of the twentieth century. Wakefield's growth is illustrated vividly in photographs of residents at work and at play: images depict grocery clerks showing off mounds of produce, the owners of one of the town's first car dealerships standing proudly in front of a new model, and the wealthy inhabitants of Shadow Farm pulling away from their home in a carriage.

Pawtuxet Valley is an introduction to the people and places of the valley, from its heyday of industrial power to its suburban evolution in the late twentieth century. Even more, it is a tribute to the many thousands who settled here and their descendants who left a legacy now being rediscovered. In this book, you will visit the Paine House, a Colonial-era tavern in Washington Village; St. Mary's Church, the oldest Roman Catholic church in Rhode Island; the annual St. Patrick's Day parade; and the many factories and mills that helped shape this exciting community.

Welcome to Rhode Island! Follow parent and child Rhode Island Red Chickens as they tour the Ocean State together. Join the pair as they visit the Roger Williams Park Zoo, the Green Animals Topiary Garden, and the Beavertail Lighthouse. Along the way they ride the Flying Horse Carousel in Watch Hill, play on Narragansett Beach, celebrate July 4th in Bristol, and see the amazing WaterFire in Providence! Our feathered tour guides will remind children and their loved ones of their own great visit to Rhode Island.Bestselling author Martha Day Zschock is an artist and former elementary teacher with a passion for helping children explore new places. The Hello! series illustrates how exploring real places yields new discoveries. Through these journeys, kids can explore and become experts on the world they see inside and outside the book, through the engaging, bright, and detailed illustrations. For ages 0-3. Made in the USA.

Westerly is a stunning coastal community located in Rhode Island's southwest corner. It is rich in history, being the first town incorporated in the King's Province and the fifth town in the colony. These pages offer a glimpse of everyday life in old Westerly as well as amusing mishaps and historical events that have been hidden until now. Many colonial patriots, such as Benjamin Franklin, left their footprints upon the sandy soil of this tranquil place. Westerly also abounds with commercial heritage, such as the shipbuilding industry on the banks of the Pawcatuck River and the granite industry, which made Westerly famous. In addition this volume 

Providence's Benefit Street showcases the rich history of Rhode Island's capital, a tangible history that can be experienced firsthand by walking one mile through the heart of the city.

Officially established by 1772 for ""the benefit of all,"" Benefit Street is arguably the most historic thoroughfare in Rhode Island. Some of Providence's most prominent families, including the Browns (the namesake of Brown University), built stately homes on Benefit Street's hillside, many of which still stand today. Threatened by years of neglect, the Providence Preservation Society intervened in the 1950s to save the buildings that line the street. Benefit Street has survived the dangers of demolition and now bears witness to disparate time periods and communities. It is the site of important educational and community institutions, including the Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, the First Baptist Church, and the Providence Athenaeum, the fourth oldest library in the United States.

Resident historians Thomas E. and Barbara A. Greene present a comprehensive look at the development and growth of their North Providence from 1765 to 1995.

As this volume is the first history of any sort to ever be published on the town, numerous vintage photographs--many rare and previously unpublished-- have been carefully selected to create a fascinating portrait of the town and its villages through the years. North Providence, which from 1765 to 1874 contained the old village of Pawtucket, today consists of 5. 8 square miles of land in northern Rhode Island. The villages of North Providence are home to a variety of cultural and ethnic groups; each one maintains its own character and distinct identity. The authors' presentation includes a concise textual history of each village and incorporates significant original research on the history of North Providence schools in each district.

Bristol: Montaup to Poppasquash takes readers on a unique journey through the community's past, beginning with the voyages of early Norse explorers and detailing major events that shaped the town's history, including the King Philip's War, the Revolutionary War, and a variety of other military conflicts that took local men and women away from their homes. Not only evoking memories of yesteryear, this compelling illustrated history explores the evolving personality of Bristol over the passing decades, from its days as a small fishing village and a haven for privateers to its present status as a premier boat-building center.

The town of Warren, Rhode Island, began life as a maritime community in the late 1700s.

It continued to base its economy on the sea until the mid-1800s when the construction of a mill shifted the town's economic base to textiles. This exciting photographic history of Warren chronicles the town's development from about 1870 to 1970--to this day, Warren includes a number of 18th and 19th century homes, wharves, and warehouses, and many of the earlier incarnations of these structures are still recognizable in today's landscape. The view from the steeple of the Methodist church is substantially unchanged from that which appears in a photograph taken in the 1870s, and only the stately elm trees--since victims to arboreal disease--are missing today from the 19th century streetscapes. This marvelous collection portrays the living history of a charming New England seaport town.

Newport, Rhode Island, has been a city of innovation since its beginning nearly four centuries ago. Some of the claims on a national level are true, while some have been greatly distorted over the years.

The first law banning the importation of slaves in the colonies was enacted in the city, and the first Methodist church in the world with a steeple and bell is located here. But was the first female lighthouse keeper in America from here? Was Newport the first place where a medical lecture was given? Author and research historian Brian M. Stinson offers a chronological collection of vignettes detailing the city's many firsts.

A collection of archival images, Pawtucket brings to life the history of this city, including the people, places, landmarks, and events that shaped it.

Pawtucket is a thriving and proud community with a rich history that spans over one hundred years. This compelling visual history is a valuable contribution to the movement to preserve Pawtucket's heritage. For decades, the Pawtucket Public Library and the Spaulding House Research Library have built up two remarkable archives chronicling the vivid history of Pawtucket from the 1820s to the 1990s. Now, these institutions have published over two hundred of the most fascinating images from their archives, bringing to life over one hundred and seventy years of Pawtucket's history--the people, places, landmarks, and events that have shaped this vibrant city. Accompanied by the authors' lively and authoritative text, these images invite us to journey back into the past and meet legendary Pawtucket characters such as Peter Palagi, aviator Jack McGee, and Fanny the elephant; to experience the bustle of Main Street or Broad Street in the 1870s and 1920s; and to rediscover landmarks such as the Music Hall building and Shartenberg's department store. As we meander through these pages, we see how much has been lost and yet how a sense of community has endured across the decades. It will be a source of education and fascination for young and old, resident and visitor alike.

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.

Brown University Athletics features some of the greatest teams and athletes in Brown history, as well as several others who have gone on to prominent careers, including Governor Don Carcieri, media mogul Ted Turner, and ESPN sports anchor Chris Berman. From football legends John Heisman, Joe Paterno, and Steve Jordan to baseball star Billy Almon, Brown athletes have enjoyed tremendous success and have won national championships in several sports.

The town of Bristol, Rhode Island, has been celebrating Independence Day in grand fashion since 1785.

Americans from near and far have long regarded the town as a center of patriotism and history. With this pictorial history, Bristol resident and ""Fourth of July Historian"" Richard V. Simpson presents a lively tribute to his town's heritage. Simpson has combined carefully selected images--many rare and previously unpublished--with informative and compelling text to take his readers on a journey through the history of this dynamic and diverse community. Readers are taken inside Hope Street's historic mansions and family-run shops, gaining valuable insight into the lifestyles of Bristolians in the early 1900s. By contrast, the growth and development of the town in the 20th century is revealed in aerial views taken over a period of 50 years.