November 2010

The Newport Historical Society was chartered in 1854 to collect and preserve books, manuscripts, and objects pertaining to Newport's history. The society's collections originated thirty years earlier as the "Southern Cabinet" of the Rhode Island Historical Society. By 1853, several prominent Newporters recognized the need for a separate organization specifically devoted to preserving the history of Newport County, and the collections of the Southern Cabinet were reorganized under the auspices of the Newport Historical Society.

The town of Little Compton, Rhode Island, was founded by a band of explorers from Plymouth Colony seeking to expand their settlement along the Massachusetts coastline. The land they chose, some twenty square miles situated on a peninsula sixty miles southwest of present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, was originally named Sakonnet (after the local Sogkonnite tribe of Indians).

In 1682, Sakonnet was incorporated by Plymouth Colony and renamed Little Compton. In January 1746/47, Little Compton became an incorporated town of the state of Rhode Island, pursuant to a royal decree, and shortly thereafter was annexed to Newport County.

The society produces four public summer events to promote interest in the Town's history. The society creates summer exhibits for its museum and maintains a display case and exhibits in the Town Library.

The society's office is located in the lower level of the old Town House, built by members of the Second Baptist Church and deeded to the Town in 1822. Town meetings were first held here in 1801 and have been held continuously over the years since that date.

The commission operates a statewide historical preservation program that identifies and protects historic buildings, districts, structures, and archaeological sites. The commission also develops and carries out programs to document and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Rhode Island's people.

Rhode Island's historic buildings are an important resource for the present and future of the state. Old buildings provide needed housing and industrial and commercial space. They serve as cultural centers and as educational resources.

Since the middle of the eighteenth century the Babcock-Smith House has stood amid an ever-changing area atop Granite Street in Westerly. One of Rhode Island's important architectural and historical landmarks, the house as it now stands clearly reflects the modes of life of the several generations who continuously occupied the house until 1972.

The land originally extended from what is now Tower Street to Wells Street, then Eastward into a wedge-shaped mass for about 1 3/4 miles. Now the property is about 200 feet square.

South Park City is a remarkable restoration of these early towns, preserving the history of our nation's frontier while it educates and entertains the present. Located in Fairplay, Colorado, the museum is an accurate representation of a mining town between 1860 and 1900. Thirty-four authentic buildings filled with over 60,000 artifacts portray most of the economic and social aspects of boomtown life. Seven of the buildings are on their original sites; the others have been moved from abandoned camps and ghost towns in South Park, a 900 square mile basin surrounded by Colorado's majestic Rocky Mountains. The restored buildings contain period room settings and exhibits illustrating the professions, trades and industries that contributed to life in a nineteenth century Colorado mining town.

Battlefield Tours are available through Pecos National Historical Park. Because a major road (NM Highway 50) cuts directly through the unit, Glorieta Battlefield is unsafe for pedestrians and is therefore closed to unescorted visitors. There is only one minor interpretive sign at the site (a state highway marker at Windmill Hill) and no visitor facilities. East of the core battlefield are two monuments to the soldiers in the New Mexico Campaign. These are accessible to visitors. Guided tours of the battlefield and related sites are available by reservation only. The tours depart by van from the Pecos National Historical Park Visitors Center, and are included in the cost of park admission.

The museum offers visitors a glimpse into the cultural and natural history of the area from the Indians and Hispanic settlers, the mountain men fur trappers and traders, to the later settlers who came in search of land, freedom, gold, and silver.

Of special interest in the Del Norte area is the Old Spanish Trail. Between 1830 and 1848 the Trail was a major trade route running between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Los Angeles, California. Traces of the original trail can still be seen in the area.

This museum offers stimulating learning opportunities for visitors of all ages. Visitors can view a comprehensive exhibit of Indian rock art here. Lecture series are offered, in addition to special programs for school children. Visitors also have the chance to browse through our gift store and view exhibits of contemporary regional artisans.

 The museum was founded in 1989 by motorcycle lovers who wanted to keep the history alive by maintaining the history of racers and riders, dating back as early as 1902. It invests in vintage bikes and other noteworthy memorabilia to create exhibits that preserve the motorcycle industry. Innovative exhibitions such as the Board Track room and the Media/Resource room keep visitors eager for more motorcycle history.