Although this state is tiny, it’s definitely mighty. If you want to learn more about the smallest state in the US, stay tuned! From cuisine to history, Rhode Island has something for everyone.
Rhode Island is famous for its beaches, seafood, supernatural history, and its place at the beginning of United States history. Rhode Island is also known for its contributions to sailing, tennis, and golf, its unmistakable New England accent, and its love for its state drink: coffee milk!
Table of Contents
1. The real “Conjuring” house
Released in 2013, “The Conjuring” is consistently ranked in the top 10 scariest movies of all time. But did you know that this story is actually based on a very real property in Harrisville, Rhode Island?
Although the property was developed around 1736, the movie is based on the terrifying experiences of the Perron family after moving into the house in early 1971. The family began experiencing paranormal activity almost immediately after moving in.
After doing some digging, the family found that since its construction, the house had been owned by 8 generations of the same family. The records on this house and the family included very mysterious and horrible deaths and accidents that had occurred on the property.
After passing through several different hands over the years, the house was sold in 2019 under the requirement that the new owner must not live in the house year-round, as its energy is deemed too powerful. Talk about a selling point, geez.
The house is now open to the public, where visitors can experience this energy for themselves. They offer tours, special events, and even overnight investigations! This is definitely a bucket list experience for a horror fan (which I am definitely not!).
2. Being the “Sailing Capital of the World”
Located on the bottom right side of Rhode Island, Newport was home to the world’s most prestigious sailing championship, the America Cup, for over 50 years. Although this title is often debated, Newport’s location in Narraganset Bay offers hundreds of nooks and crannies to explore, earning the right tothe title.
Many who enjoy sailing often flock to Newport during summer, or as they call it, “sailing season”. Newport offers constant breezy and sunny days along with several different sailing festivals throughout the season.
3. Surfing
Although you might think of California or Hawaii when you think of United States’ surfing, did you know that Rhode Island actually has some of the most amazing east coast surf spots?
Not only that, but you can actually take your pick from a lineup of different surf spots; whether you prefer left or right-hand breaks, which season you prefer to surf in, and more.
The east coast is one of the only spots where the water temperature fluctuates so much and still stays surfable. With ocean temperatures in summer hitting 75 degrees Fahrenheit and winter temperatures sailing below 35, that’s quite the range. Yet it’s all surfable!
This is actually the biggest reason I traveled to Rhode Island. It was wildly fun to camp out at one of the state’s beautiful campgrounds, wake up with the sun, and hit the beach for some waves. There are also a handful of surf businesses that are set up right on the beach, ready to hand over a wetsuit, a board, and a lesson!
4. The accent
The Rhode Island accent is a mix between the stark Boston accent and the New York accent. It’s not uncommon to hear “what’s going on with daboatayaz” instead of “what’s going on with the both of you” when in Rhode Island.
You may know that Rhode Island was one of the 13 original colonies that were settled by England. What you may not know is that the British accent over in England has changed a lot over the last few centuries and the American one has remained mostly the same.
Therefore, the New England accent is actually closer to the original English accent than the modern British one!
5. Nibbles Woodaway, the biggest bug in the world
Afraid of bugs? Don’t drive past Big Blue Bug Solutions in Providence! This pest control company set out to construct Nibbles the termite in 1980. With his home on top of their company building beside I-95, he ended up costing 20,000 USD, weighing 2 tons, and measuring 58 feet!
Nibbles got his clever name after a local radio contest sought to rename the Big Blue Bug in 1990. Most locals still lovingly call him the Big Blue Bug though.
Nibbles also gets to dress up in costumes on holidays. For example, he gets a white Uncle Sam beard for Independence Day and reindeer horns/Santa hats and Christmas lights for Christmas!
6. Being the smallest state but having the longest name!
Rhode Island is by far the smallest state in the United States at 1,214 square miles. However, it’s still larger than the 29 smallest countries in the world!
It also had the longest name until voters chose to change it in 2020. The full name of the smallest state used to be “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations”, but residents chose to drop “and Providence Plantations”, leaving Massachusetts with the longest state name in the US.
7. International Tennis Hall of Fame
The first US Open for tennis was held in Newport before being moved to New York. Since then, the International Tennis Hall of Fame was opened in 1986 to honor the sport and its greatest athletes.
The Hall of Fame found its home in the former Newport Casino. Each year, they hold a festival where tennis greats come to play on their grass courts, and where visitors can watch for a fraction of the price of the expensive US Open.
You can play on their courts too! While they offer memberships, their courts are also open to the public.
8. Clam dishes
Quahog is one of the most popular ingredients in Rhode Island cuisine. In other areas, it’s just called a hard-shelled clam. Its Rhode Island name comes from the Native American word for the clam, the “poquauhock”. They used the shells of these creatures to make beads, or “wampum”, which is what they used as currency.
Popular dishes in Rhode Island that include quahog are clam chowder, po boys, and stuffies. Stuffies are the Rhode Island word for stuffed clams.
Although there are a million different family recipes on how to make stuffies, this dish generally involves breadcrumbs, chopped clam, herbs, onion, celery, and peppers that are baked in the shell of the quahog.
Residents of this state have been blessed with a bountiful ocean, and my, oh, my, have they used it to its full potential!
9. Shipwrecks
Rhode Island is home to more shipwrecks per square mile than any other state with over 2,000 in its waters. The types of ships wrecked in the waters include colonial trading ships, ships from wars between the Revolutionary War and WWII, and many others.
During the Revolutionary War, the battle for Rhode Island saw hundreds of ships sunk. Between the British destroying American ships and also their own, there is an incredible amount of 250+-year-old ships off of the Rhode Island shore.
While many have been found, there are some that have been lost to time, modern dredging, and ocean patterns.
10. Being old
Being one of the 13 colonies, it’s no surprise that this state is home to a lot of the nation’s firsts!
Some of the firsts that belong in Rhode Island are the first successful US cotton mill, the first US commercial offshore wind farm, the first town in America to be established by a woman, the US’s first circus, the country’s oldest Baptist church congregation (founded in 1636!), the first gas-lit street in America, America’s first jazz festival, and so much more!
Okay, maybe it’s not known for being old, but it definitely has the evidence to prove that it offers some of the country’s oldest events, inventions, and milestones!
11. Sideburns
Did you know that sideburns can be traced back to Rhode Island? General Ambrose Burnside, who organized a regiment of Rhode Island militiamen for the Civil War, had some fantastic facial hair. During his service as the Rhode Island governor, the facial hair style caught on and the rest is history.
They started off being called after his last name Burnside, but at some point, the words were switched to “sideburns”. I mean, that name makes sense, too!
12. The Industrial Revolution
The Blackstone River Valley, situated between Massachusetts and Rhode Island, is referred to as the “Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution”.
Samuel Slater is credited with being the first in America to be able to spin cotton into yarn using machinery, ultimately kickstarting the Industrial Revolution. So technically, you have Slater and Rhode Island to thank for your American blue jeans!
13. Being the first colony to declare independence
Rhode Island may be small, but it is mighty! On May 4th, 1776, they were the first North American colony to renounce its allegiance to King George the third and his throne in England.
The General Assembly of the Colony of Rhode Island reached this vote nearly unanimously. This made it the first independent sovereign state in the entire western world!
14. Drinking laws
This state has a fairly interesting relationship with liquor. In 1920, it was 1 of only 2 states in the US to reject the 18th Amendment banning alcohol.
On the other side, they seem to have pretty strict laws governing alcohol here. Not only is liquor not sold in supermarkets but happy hours advertising reduced prices on alcohol are banned here.
Instead, they have “appy hours”, where appetizers and other food are reduced price. The reasoning behind banning happy hour was to cut down on drunk driving.
15. Its “vampire problem”
In the 1800s, it was actually a pretty common belief amongst residents of the state that vampires were real. They even routinely checked graves for vampire marks, missing body parts, and anything else they thought would indicate supernatural activity.
The citizens believed that the illness known as “consumption” (or tuberculosis) that was striking down New Englanders incredibly fast was actually the doing of dead family members coming back to bring illness upon their live family members. Their solution? Dig up the dead family members and ritualistically burn their insides…gross.
The most famous of their “vampire hunts” occurred in 1892 and was chronicled in a town newspaper. A family of four was beginning to fall ill. The mother and daughter passed first, but the son’s illness was progressing much slower than theirs had.
With the father’s permission, the town began the vampire hunt and dug up the mother and daughter.
They discovered that, even though the daughter had been buried for 2 months, she looked exactly the same as she had the day she was buried! What was more disturbing was the fact that her heart contained fresh red blood! Supposedly, the son and father recovered after that.
Whether this newspaper article is based on any fact or not, it just goes to show that the state had a real fear and belief that Dracula was out to get them.
16. Beaches
For a small state, Rhode Island sure does have a lot of shoreline! 400 miles of it to be exact. On these coastlines, you can expect beautiful sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, coves, sea caves, and more.
As is with many coastal areas, the sunsets and sunrises are absolutely beautiful over the Atlantic. Rhode Island is no exception! It’s common to see locals venture to the cliffs and beaches to enjoy sunsets and sunrises during all times of the year.
17. Coffee milk
The state beverage here is coffee milk, which has more in common with Hershey’s chocolate syrup and milk than it does a latte. It’s made by adding coffee syrup or extract to milk.
While no one can say where it really came from, it’s suspected that it has southern Italian roots. The government made it the official state drink in 1993, so no matter where it came from, it’s clearly here to stay!
18. Cabinets
No, not like the cabinets in your kitchen. This is actually another drink that Rhode Islanders enjoy. It’s basically their word for a milkshake. If you turn their beloved coffee milk into a milkshake, they call it a coffee cabinet!
The name comes from the fact that the blenders used to make the milkshakes are often stored in cabinets. If I’ve learned one thing about Rhode Island, it’s that they love to come up with strange names for everyday things.
19. RISD
While Brown University in Providence is probably the Rhode Island university that comes to mind when you think of universities in the Ocean State, Providence’s Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) actually has a lot of famous alumni too.
The masterminds behind the band The Talking Heads, the co-creator of “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, “Good Will Hunting”, “Family Guy”, and more hail from RISD.
20. The White Horse Tavern
This restaurant, located in Newport, is actually the oldest in the United States! It’s also the 10th oldest in the world. It has served guests since 1673.
Built in 1652 as a private residence, it has been the meeting place of rich and poor alike for almost 350 years. Since Rhode Island has so much history (being the first independent sovereign nation in the western world and all), what a great place to enjoy modern Rhode Island cuisine in a historical atmosphere.
Conclusion
While most might not know much about America’s smallest state, it clearly has much more to offer than first meets the eye. From unique cuisine to countless sporting opportunities, Rhode Island has something for everyone and much to explore.
Would you visit “The Conjuring” house? How about trying a coffee cabinet? Maybe you’d prefer a visit to Nibbles? Let us know in the comments!
