Rhode Island: Spectacular in the Fall

This Day in History: May 29, 1790

Rhode Island, the Ocean State, the Southern Gateway of New England

The Ocean State is the official nickname formulated to attract tourism to Rhode Island and appears on non-commercial license plates replacing "Discover" in 1972. With over 400 miles of coastline, all Rhode Islanders live within a 30-minute drive to the Atlantic Ocean or Narragansett Bay. The historical nickname, the Southern Gateway of New England, was bestowed because Rhode Island was the most southerly of the New England states with harbors suitable for ocean-going ships.

 A step back in time: Rhode Island, 1947

 
  Aerial America
Rhode Island: Sneak Peak
What it lacks in size it makes up for in historical significance.
Take the high-flying tour of the little state with big stories.

The official state motto of Rhode Island is simply "Hope." The state motto appears on the great seal and flag of Rhode Island. The use of the word "Hope" was probably inspired by the biblical phrase "hope we have as an anchor of the soul" … an insightful interpretation of information literacy’s relationship as the anchor to the soul of the art of teaching and learning in America, especially for the citizens of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island was the first of the original Thirteen Colonies to declare independence from British rule, declaring itself independent on May 4, 1776, two months before any other colony. It was the last colony of the thirteen colonies to ratify the United States Constitution on May 29, 1790, once assurances were made that a Bill of Rights would become part of the Constitution, thereby making it the 13th state in the union. "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" is the longest official name of any state in the Union.

[The thirteen colonies were: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations]

Rhode Island, officially the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
is a state in the New England region of the United States.

Rhode Island State Flag

The flag of Rhode Island is white, bearing on each side
in the center a gold anchor, underneath it a blue ribbon
with the state motto "Hope" in gold letters, and
surrounded by thirteen golden stars in a circle.
The flag is also edged with yellow fringe.

 

Rhode Island State Seal

Rhode Island Red

The Rhode Island red chicken was designated the official state bird
of Rhode Island in 1954. When the bill was signed into law,
then Governor Dennis J. Roberts stated:
"The Rhode Island red has become a symbol of Rhode Islanders all over the world."

State Flower: Violet
Wood violet photo by Maia C on Flickr;
noncommercial use permitted with attribution / no derivative works.


For all State Symbols of Rhode Island click HERE!

"Rhode Island it's for Me"

 

Spectacular in the Fall
(and that's not all!)

*****

Red maple tree photo © by Jeff Dean on Wikipedia - use permitted
with attribution.

Old roads and trails
Wind amidst forests ever changing
Rarely the same sights, sounds
Greet a day's dusk or dawning

Trees grow, trees die
Leaves mature and decay
Birds, woodland creatures
Come and go as they may

Somewhat flat sandy areas
Emerge as a covered mansion
Pines, scrubby oaks and blueberries
Semble sandy forests of Wisconsin

Bounties of land, water
Follow the seasons
Often changing altogether
With nature's reasons

Relics of the past
Traverse the dense forest floor
Abandoned stone wall fences
Testify an era no more

Beauty of Rhode Island forests
So-o-o-o spectacular in the fall
Golds, purples, scarlet reds
Maples abound and that's not all!

©2014 Sharla Lee Shults

Sunset at Newport, Rhode Island - photo © G.E. Long on Flick
noncommercial use permitted with attribution

 

 Rhode Island Facts and Trivia

Also on this date: #30 Wisconsin, May 29, 1849

Next state(s) by month:

#15 Kentucky, June 1, 1792

&

#16 Tennessee, June 1, 1796