Rogue Island
Smuggling in Colonial Rhode Island and the Gaspee Affair On June 9, 1772 the British customs schooner Gaspee ran aground … Continue reading Rogue Island
Fighting Like Heroes: Accounts of the Battle of R.I., 1778
The Battle of Rhode Island, also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill, occurred August 29, 1778 in Tiverton, R.I. … Continue reading Fighting Like Heroes: Accounts of the Battle of R.I., 1778
The Good, the Bad, and the Awesome
The GOOD Esek Hopkins was born on April 26, 1718 in Scituate, Rhode Island to William Hopkins and Ruth Wilkinson. … Continue reading The Good, the Bad, and the Awesome
Pushing Paper: Collections Highlight
For Rhode Island one of the most important events of the late 18th Century was the opening of paper mills … Continue reading Pushing Paper: Collections Highlight
Happy R.I. Independence Day!
Happy Rhode Island Independence Day! Happy Independence Day Rhode Island! Two full months before the Continental Congress in Philadelphia declared independence … Continue reading Happy R.I. Independence Day!
Object Thursday: The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is classified as a “broadside.” Broadsides are generally printed on one side of a sheet of … Continue reading Object Thursday: The Declaration of Independence
A perfidious wretch: Hitchcock's sermon on Arnold's treason
By you probably know how much I like the Reverend Enos Hitchcock in all his forms and centuries. We are … Continue reading A perfidious wretch: Hitchcock's sermon on Arnold's treason
Object Thursday: Grenadier's Caps at Gallery Night
Just back from conservation and display in Boston, tonight’s Brief Encounter will feature the ca. 1745 British Grenadier’s cap from … Continue reading Object Thursday: Grenadier's Caps at Gallery Night
Faith & Freedom Friday: Enos Hitchcock, Army Chaplain
He was born on March 3, 1744 in Springfield, Massachusetts, and came to Providence after the Revolutionary War. When fighting … Continue reading Faith & Freedom Friday: Enos Hitchcock, Army Chaplain
Object Thursday: Not at Bunker Hill– A British Officer’s Cap
Every object tells a story, and sometimes more than one. In the RIHS Museum collection, we have a very beautiful … Continue reading Object Thursday: Not at Bunker Hill– A British Officer’s Cap
Faith & Freedom Friday: Revolution and Rebellion
On Saturday, April 17, 1841, the Suffrage Association of Rhode Island held a Suffrage Parade. The members of the Association … Continue reading Faith & Freedom Friday: Revolution and Rebellion
Object Thursdays – Ship's Log
The Society’s collection of maritime records includes a large number of ships logs in MSS 828: The Ships’ Logs Collection. … Continue reading Object Thursdays – Ship's Log
Your Revolutionary Past
Most of us a have a rebel or two in the extended family tree, but how many of us have … Continue reading Your Revolutionary Past
History Many Ways: What Cheer! Day 2012
One of the most rewarding things about working at the RIHS is the opportunity to share our wonderful collections with … Continue reading History Many Ways: What Cheer! Day 2012
What Cheer! Day Preparation Underway
It’s a busy week for us here at the RIHS, as everyone prepares for our first What Cheer! Day on … Continue reading What Cheer! Day Preparation Underway
RI Cemetery Database Updated
New data and photograph files about burials in the Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries (RIHC) Database have just been added to … Continue reading RI Cemetery Database Updated
Sneak a Peak at the Gallery
Each day we work at the museum, we get a little closer to finishing the exhibit installation. The cases in … Continue reading Sneak a Peak at the Gallery
Memorial Day: Remembering Rhode Island’s Early Veterans
In the process of helping to create a year of programming based on “Rhode Island at War,” and as a … Continue reading Memorial Day: Remembering Rhode Island’s Early Veterans
Nuclear Nathanael Greene
In another serendipitous moment, while looking for a sheet of much earlier 5-cent stamps, I found this: The USS Nathanael … Continue reading Nuclear Nathanael Greene
Happy Rhody Independence Day!
Two full months before the Continental Congress in Philadelphia declared independence from Great Britain, the General Assembly of Rhode Island … Continue reading Happy Rhody Independence Day!
Cold Christmas
New England troops had a cold Christmas in 1777 at Valley Forge. Most of us are familiar with the story—ragged, … Continue reading Cold Christmas
What's in a Pocket?
Lucy Lockett lost her pocket Kitty Fisher found it Not a penny was there in it Only ribbon round it … Continue reading What's in a Pocket?
Fire Cake & Water: Soldiers’ Winter Part III
Perception is reality, but how does a soldier’s own reality color his perception? For Jeremiah Greenman of the 2nd Rhode … Continue reading Fire Cake & Water: Soldiers’ Winter Part III
Soldiers' Winter Part II
There is yet another Rhode Island record of the events at Fort Mifflin: the letters of Ebenezer David, Chaplain of … Continue reading Soldiers' Winter Part II
Soldiers’ Winter
Sometimes you find the best things in a random way: thanks to an emailed reference question, I discovered the diary … Continue reading Soldiers’ Winter
Unknown Soldiers
Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and we hope you will join us at the Museum of Work & Culture at 11:00 … Continue reading Unknown Soldiers
Happy Rhody Independence Day!
! Happy Independence Day Rhode Island! Two full months before the Continental Congress in Philadelphia declared independence from Great Britain, … Continue reading Happy Rhody Independence Day!
Feel the Burn
As we begin the season of celebrating Gaspee Days (6 May to 13 June)—complete with children dressed as gravediggers—, here’s … Continue reading Feel the Burn
Independence Day
It’s that time again, time to celebrate Rhode Island’s declaration of their independence from Great Britain. Last year we posted … Continue reading Independence Day
Talk of the Town, 18th Century-Style
Thanks to the generous support from the following organizations: Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the Revolution Rhode Island … Continue reading Talk of the Town, 18th Century-Style
The King is Dead! (Oh, wait…) Long Live the King! (Sanford Ross, pt. 2)
Our last post described Sanford Ross and some of the details of his daily life that are vividly brought out … Continue reading The King is Dead! (Oh, wait…) Long Live the King! (Sanford Ross, pt. 2)
Happy Independence Day
Yes, it’s true that July 4th is the traditional day of celebrating the 13 American Colonies’ independence from Great Britain. … Continue reading Happy Independence Day
Here be Cannons, or, Where the Horses are "Boney and Strong"
War brings a new perspective to most things, including maps. The surveying for this map of the Narragansett Bay was … Continue reading Here be Cannons, or, Where the Horses are "Boney and Strong"