God's merciful Providence

While Boston is one of my favourite cities in the US, I decided to explore a little further afield on my trip there last weekend. It was great to have a ‘free day’ down route. I decided to visit Providence, Rhode Island. Rhode Island is the smallest state in the US and one state that I have not visited. In my bid to visit all 50 states, I thought I would cross another off my list. After doing a little research as to what the state and its capital had to offer, I would say I become mildly obsessed. Maybe intrigued might be a better description. I learnt quite a lot about the area. For one, I was unaware that RI was one of the first states to declare its independence from Britain (OK, well we all make mistakes….). It is also home to the first Baptist Church in the US dating from 1636. Its State House had the fourth largest unsupported dome in the world (and the second largest marble dome after St. Pete’s Basilica in Rome). Westminster Arcade is also the oldest enclosed shopping center in the U.S. Below are some of the other ‘firsts’ of the ‘Ocean State’

I really enjoyed my few hours wandering around Providence. It’s a very pretty, easy to navigate city with some great history and a lovely feel. I would highly recommend a visit if you’re ever in the area. As usual, more photos can be found here.


Famous firsts in Rhode Island
* Rhode Island enacted the first law prohibiting slavery in North America on May 18, 1652.

* Slater Mill in Pawtucket was the first commercially successful cotton-spinning mill with a fully mechanized power system in America and was the birth place of the Industrial Revolution in the US.
* The oldest Fourth of July Parade in the country is still held annually in Bristol, RI.

* The first Baptist Church in America was founded in Providence in 1638.
* Ann Smith Franklin of the Newport Mercury was the first woman newspaper editor in America (August 22, 1762). She was the editor of "The Newport Mercury" in Newport, Rhode Island.

* Touro Synagogue, the first synagogue in America, was founded in Newport in 1763.

* Other sources say the first synagogue was the Mill Street, now South William Street, Synagogue in New York City, built by the Shearith Israel congregation in 1729 (or 1730), having earlier met in rented quarters, making Touro Synagogue the second-oldest in the United States.
* The first armed act of rebellion in America against the British Crown was the boarding and burning of the Revenue Schooner Gaspee in Narragansett Bay on June 10, 1772.
* The idea of a Continental Congress was first proposed at a town meeting in Providence on May 17, 1774. Rhode Island elected the first delegates (Stephen Hopkins and Samuel Ward) to the Continental Congress on June 15, 1774.
* The Rhode Island General Assembly created the first standing army in the colonies (1,500 men) on April 22, 1775.

* On June 15, 1775, the first naval engagement of the American Revolution occurred between a Colonial Sloop commanded by Capt. Abraham Whipple and an armed tender of the British Frigate Rose. The tender was chased aground and captured. Later in June, the General Assembly created the first American Navy when it commissioned the Sloops Katy and Washington, armed with 24 guns and commanded by Abraham Whipple, who was promoted to Commodore.
* Rhode Island was the first Colony to declare independence from Britain on May 4, 1776.

* Pelham Street in Newport was the first in America to be illuminated by gaslight in 1806.
* The first strike in the United States in which women participated occurred in Pawtucket in 1824.
* Watch Hill has the nation's oldest carousel that has been in continuous operation since 1850.
* The motion picture machine (a machine showing animated pictures) was patented in Providence on April 23, 1867.
* The first lunch wagon in America was introduced in Providence in 1872.

* The first nine hole golf course in America was completed in Newport in 1890.

* The first state health laboratory was established in Providence on September 1, 1894

* The Rhode Island State House was the first building with an all-marble dome to be built in the United States (1895–1901)
* The first automobile race on a track was held in Cranston on September 7, 1896.
* The first automobile parade was held in Newport on September 7, 1899 on the grounds of Belcourt Castle.
* The first NFL night game was held on November 6, 1929 at Providence's Kinsley Park. The Chicago (now Arizona) Cardinals defeated the Providence Steam Roller 16-0.