Join the Rhode Island Historical Society on Tuesday, October 7th, at 6pm at the Wild Colonial Tavern for a talk from public historian Robert Geake on the history of taverns in Rhode Island.
Geake will recount the “Ordinaries” or public houses in Providence and surrounding towns during the colonial period, complete with tales from those taverns used as meeting houses, courtrooms, and even prisons in the course of Rhode Island’s early history.
In addition to the talk, guests will receive a drink ticket to enjoy a beverage from a pre-selected list of options.
Robert A. Geake is a public historian and the author of sixteen books on Rhode Island and New England history, including From Slaves to Soldiers: The First Rhode Island Regiment in the American Revolution. Other books include A History of the Narragansett Tribe: Keepers of the Bay, Native and New Americans, New England’s Citizen Soldiers: Mariners and Minutemen, and many others. As a public historian, Mr. Geake is a contributor to the blogs smallstatebighistory.com, rifootprints.com, and most recently, The Cocumscussoc Review on smithscastle.org. His upcoming biography, A Man of Uncommon Valor: James Mitchell Varnum, the American Revolution, and the Founding of the New Republic will be published in July, 2026.
Registration for this event is required. Tickets can be purchased here.