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NATIONAL RHODE ISLAND DAY
Wrapping up the original 13 colonies, National Rhode Island Day on October 5 recognizes the last colony to join the Union.
Persecuted for his beliefs in Massachusetts, Roger Williams established the Rhode Island colony in 1636 at Providence seeking religious and political freedom.
While the colony was the first to renounce British rule, Rhode Island was the only state absent from the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Rhode Island delayed signing the Constitution, preferring the addition of a bill of rights. It wasn’t until the Constitution was ratified by nine previous states and the threat of taxation on her exports that Rhode Island finally ratified the document and became the 13th state.
Textile industry boomed in the mid-1800s after Samuel Slater founded the first textile mill in Pawtucket 1790. Rhode Island made producing cloth into a lucrative national and export business.
Lawn tennis has been a long-held pastime by Rhode Islanders and is clearly part of the fabric of their history. The National Lawn Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum was founded in 1954 by Jimmy Van Alen at the Newport Casino. The location in Newport, Rhode Island held the first U.S. national championship for tennis in 1881.
Despite being the smallest state, the Ocean State jams over 400 miles of coastline in its 1212 square miles. With numerous public and private beaches, Rhode Island ocean views and adventure abound.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Join National Day Calendar as we recognize Rhode Island’s industry, beauty and history. Explore her shores and find out more about her people. There is much to see! Use #NationalRhodeIslandDay to share on social media.
Each week following the week of Independence Day 2017, National Day Calendar will be announcing a National Day in honor of each state in the order they entered the union. We start with Delaware on July 13 and will complete the celebrations with Hawaii on June 27, 2018, allowing for some time off for the holidays.
For more information, visit the National Day Calendar page for National Rhode Island Day.
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