Proust had his madeleines, but for me it is the scent of Rhode Island wetlands that brings back childhood intact. Although born and raised in Massachusetts, I love Rhode Island like a favorite aunt. Many childhood summer vacations at Spring Lake or in South County lodged RI in the upper right hand corner of my brain permanently. One night in January of 1996, shortly after The North Cape Oil Spill, my mother called me and asked "How is Rhode Island?" in exactly the same tone of voice she uses when asking after the health of a sick relative.
Rhode Island is fine, Mom.
The historic Blackstone River has shaped the history of Rhode Island, from the first textile mill in America in Pawtucket to the influx of successive waves of immigrants who came to work in the mills. The Rhode Island stretch of the Blackstone Valley has been federally designated the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.
And from a Massachusetts perspective, it's worth pointing out that the headwaters of the Blackstone River are in Worcester (Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce).
A state with 400 miles of coastline and really interesting weather has got to have a lot of lighthouses. My personal favorite is Beavertail Light. Nancy and I have been known to drive down there in the dead of winter to watch the higher than usual tides before a storm or just to get a feel for the winter sea. It's fabulous in summer too. And the museum there has an excellent map showing all of RI's lighthouses with historical information about each. The docents there are exceptionally knowledgeable and really love lighthouses. It's worth the drive just to listen to them talk about the '38 Hurricane.
The Stockholm of North America. The Venice of North America. The best kept secret among American cities. And say what you will about Buddy Cianci, he did move the river.
- Barrington Grape Vine
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