Fun Facts

Rhode Island is the smallest state but has the longest official name – “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.”

Rhode Island was the first of the 13 colonies to declare independence from Great Britain and the last to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The independent streak continues to this day and is a sometime point of pride with Rhode Islanders.

To wit, Rhode Island was one of two states to never ratify prohibition. (Connecticut was the other).

The very first Jewish synagogue in North America, Touro Synagogue, was (and is) in Newport, Rhode Island, which was also the Civil War home of the U.S. Naval Academy, and a few modest summer cottages used (infrequently) by the Vanderbilts, Astors, and cronies.

Rhode Island is “like” 26 miles by forty some miles and has over 350 miles of coastline. Go figure! But it makes for great sailing, kayaking, and swimming. The America’s Cup originated here.

Rhode Island is the home state of film makers Peter and Bobby Farrelly, who filmed There’s Something About Mary, Me Myself and Irene, and parts of Dumb and Dumber here.

Do you have a Rhode Island fun fact?

Well not for nothin', send it to me at Mark_Wood@uri.edu!

Some Rhode Island Links

http://www.visitrhodeisland.com/ (Official Tourist Info page)

http://www.visitri.com/newport.html (Tourist Info on Newport – it’s crowded in the summer – you should probably go to Martha’s Vineyard or Cape Cod;)

http://www.picturethisgalleries.com/RichardBenjamin_html/richardbenjamin1.html (I told you it was beautiful!)

www.pawsox.com (Homepage of the Pawtucket Red Sox, AAA Minor League Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox)