These Historic Towns in Rhode Island Are Worth Exploring
Rhode Island is a New England state filled with vast amounts of history and beauty in equal measure. Travelers needing a new trip or a reason to get out of the house may find this state enticing for its commercial locales and natural or historical landmarks that would make every exploration worth a lifetime. These historic towns combine uniqueness and charm to create an awe-inspiring itinerary that likely will not be forgotten by anyone.
Wickford
A charming coastal village with 17th-century foundations, Wickford is home to 22,979 residents. It is best known for the Old Town House, an element of the town's legacy that is dedicated to the Historic District and adjacent Wickford Village. Tourists may enjoy Smith's Castle, a house museum originally built in 1678 that features passionate red skies and is seen as an ancestral plantation estate for the Narragansett People. The tribe is also recognized at the Narragansett Rune Stone, an observational stop for symbology and ancient runic characters deriving from native traditions. Vanderbilt family legacies can be spotted at Marble House. This opulent Gilded Age mansion is prominent for summer vacationers due to its classy interiors and structured events for both youth and adults. For more natural sights, the Poplar Point Lighthouse has a perfect scenic view with its 1830s stone dwellings and wooden vantage points overlooking the coast. Those in town who are not keen on learning about history as much will likely prefer Tavern by the Sea for outdoor patio views of Wickford Marina or The Mermaid's Purl for yarn and needle crafts that would appeal to anyone with a penchant for historical harbor memorabilia.
Jamestown
An island getaway destination with plenty of tourist traffic, Jamestown has 5,559 inhabitants who know what it means to be surrounded by history. For instance, the Beavertail Lighthouse & Museum is a mainstay 1850s treat for premier lighthouse viewpoints and an entryway for sun-kissed Narragansett Bay splendors. The New England coastline can also be appreciated at Beavertail State Park, which offers beautiful and iconic vista naturalism. Fort Wetherill State Park is a historical contributor due to its military sites and American Revolution overlooks that were once used by defense forces to maintain training and safety for those on the island. The Jamestown Windmill is another historical hotspot in the town with its 17th-century origins during the Battle of Rhode Island but is now a famous site for bonnet sailing and Windmill Day cultural activities. At the Fire Department Memorial Museum, travelers can expect to find treasures and relics that have been around for over 160 years, with curated junkyard scraps and firefighting equipment reminiscent of the 1920s. For nature lovers, the Conanicut Island Sanctuary creates a beautiful and unique tourism experience with its Marsh Meadows salt coves and avian observation decks to see birds of flight up close.
New Shoreham
New Shoreham is one of the smallest towns in the state with lots of history behind it and is home to 1,410 residents who also belong to the Block Island territories. South East Lighthouse is a definitive historical attraction for every tourist here, as it provides 1870s Gothic Revival architecture with coastal charms that resonate well amongst the locals. The Mohegan Bluffs is also around for more natural scenery, with 141 steps that take visitors across a secluded rocky beach with 16th-century history crucial to Mohegan and Manissean conflicts. Natural stone mazes, and ancient ritual sites can be seen at the Sacred Labyrinth, a commercial landmark that doubles as a hiking trail for tourists who want to witness the beauty of the North Light and Sachem Pond right off Corn Neck Road. For family-friendly activities, Abrams Animal Farm is a memorable stop with its late 1960s exotic animal farms and ferry ride tours of the entire island. This makes this town ideal for any tourist who loves being around nature and history simultaneously.
Westerly
A small town on the southwestern coastline with 18,241 residents, Westerly is equal parts historic and gorgeous. The Watch Hill Lighthouse is a commercial and historical landmark that was a nautical beacon and watchtower for ships since the 1740s and also doubles as a modernized tourist attraction that lends to the history of the French and Indian War. Not far from there is Grey Sail Brewing, a Rhode Island estate treat for tourists who enjoy a mixture of brewery history and a tremendous lineup of shoreline spirits that are among the most enchanting in the entire state. At the Granite Theatre, travelers can explore handsome Greek Revivalism architecture and careful restorations of entertainment and Broadway through the lens of coastline enthusiasts. At the Babcock-Smith House Museum, there is plenty of history to absorb as a 17th-century Georgian mansion overshadows a bunch of cute and cozy granite shops and local literature belonging to the oldest researchers in town. For general public outings, Manfredi Farms has lovely petting zoos and ambitious eight-acre corn mazes for young adults, while the Knickerbocker Music Center provides live roots musical events and train station origins that make it quite historic as a post-Prohibition commercial locale.
East Greenwich
A historic museum town with 13,970 locals, East Greenwich is an accessible option for tourists who want to explore a lot in the center of the state. The Varnum Memorial Armory Museum possesses medieval-style collections and antiques that pay homage to the National Guard and its participation during World War II, with elaborate and unusual sets of American and foreign patriotic and propaganda trinkets. The lavish Varnum House Museum also bears a similar name but maintains uniqueness by being a 17th-century landmark driven by Revolutionary War history and Greenwich Bay sightseeing comfort. For vintage tourism, the Greenwich Odeum caters to the best quality venues and comedy shows in town with 1920s restorative architecture that transports newcomers to a previous era. Tourists can check out the New England Wireless & Steam Museum for locomotive history. This 1960s locale is both commercially and historically significant because of its captivating technology exhibits and educational workshops on the state's finest steam engines. Outdoor beauty can be experienced at Audubon Davis Memorial Wildlife Refuge, a natural spoil for those who want to take relaxing hikes while admiring Hunt River's resident beavers, sea otters, coyotes, and foxes along the fresh greenery of the island.
Tiverton
Tiverton, home to 8,240 residents, is a hidden gem that provides ample opportunities to explore historical and natural beauty. The Audubon Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge is a perfect example of how nature and history combine to create an ambient trip, with its delicate woodlands and winding salt marsh trails that have run along the Sakonnet River for decades. Fort Barton and its synonymous Ft. Barton Woods are panoramic Revolutionary War settlement landmarks worth exploring due to their 17th-century trailheads and rustic bridges carrying over 83 acres of pristine wildflowers and animal habitats. The town is also known for its historic Tiverton Four Corners locale, a delightful and vibrant art gallery renowned for its scenic shopping and dining with fancy artworks once lost to time. A stunning paved promenade running 200 yards, Grinnell's Beach is both a popular landmark and a must-visit stopping point for explorers who wish to soak their feet in soft sands and warm bathhouse waters. For true bayside scenery with sailboat encounters, the town's Boat House Waterfront Dining locale has an award-winning pier walkway and specialty meals that stand out from any other diner in the state.
Foster
Known for its historic recreational farmlands, Foster is home to only 276 residents yet remains a tourist destination for all things eye-catching. With landmarks like Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge, traveling parties can find 40-foot-long walkways deriving from an early 19th-century foundation with Central Pike woodlands and public views of brightened cow pastures and yellow meadowlands. The Cucumber Hill Farm is a scenic and historic locale with Moosup Valley pumpkins and fall-season squash, with roots tracing back to the late 19th century. Jerimoth Hill is another landmark that brings out the best of history with a 17th-century, 0.3-mile highpoint that remains the highest elevation in the entire state, complete with a touch of solitude for mountaineers who prefer quietness over loud crowds. At the exquisite Nickle Creek Vineyard, newcomers can taste intricate wine flavors and be allured by the fantastic sights of fluffy rabbits, gentle fawns, and other wildlife. This town instills a niche form of history while still maintaining natural beauty.
These historic towns in Rhode Island are all viable options for travelers, no matter how experienced they may be in traveling across the U.S. There are many ways to enjoy historical landmarks fused with natural environments full of beautiful ecosystems and coastal exposure. For one's following itinerary in the "Ocean State," this list makes everything much more accessible for planning and exploration!
