REAL RHODE ISLANDERS Know . . .

Rhode Island's real name is
"The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations."

Why is the state called "Rhode Island?"
 Providence Plantations is the mainland area that Roger Williams founded, but the Island of Aquidneck (Newport / Portsmouth / Middletown) was called Rhode Island because settlers mistakenly believed it was the Island referred to by explorer Giovanni da Varrazzano in a visit to the area in the 16th century.  Varrazanno noted he had “discovered an island in the form of a triangle, distant from the mainland ten leagues, about the bigness of the (Greek) Island of Rhodes.”
(Today we know he was referring to Block Island.)
King Charles II of England in his Royal Charter of 1663, referred to the area as
“Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations”.

Who was Rhode Island's first European Settler?
William Blackstone, an Anglican clergyman came here in 1635 and built a home near Lonsdale on the banks of what he called the Blackstone River.

Who was the first Governor of Rhode Island?
Benedict Arnold, the first Governor elected under the Royal Charter in November, 1663, was the great grandfather of the infamous Revolutionary War figure, Benedict Arnold.

What is the highest point in Rhode Island?
Jerimoth Hill in Foster is the highest natural point in Rhode Island, at 812 feet (247 m) above sea level.

What is the original name of Airport Road in Warwick?
Occupasstuxet Road.  City officials changed the indian name so it was easy to spell and pronounce.

Who is called the Father of the American Industrial Revolution?
Samuel Slater.  An English immigrant, Samuel Slater founded Slater Mill in 1790, the first textile mill in the United States in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.  Slater became known as the father of the American industrial revolution.

What was The Battle of Rhode Island?
The Battle of Rhode Island (also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill) was fought during the summer of 1778.  It was an unsuccessful attempt by the Continental Army under the command of John Sullivan to recapture the island known then as Rhode Island (Aquidneck Island) from British forces and expel the British from Narragansett Bay.  Although few colonial casualties occurred and the battle ended inconclusively, the Marquis de Lafayette called the action the "best fought" of the War.  The British abandoned Newport to concentrate their forces in New York the following year.

What is the figure atop the Rhode Island State House?
The Independent Man was originally supposed to be of Roger Willams who would "be given the lookout assignment" from the top of the dome.  Roger Williams, often referred to as an "independent man" was dropped in favor of a figure depicting freedom and sovereignty (and because it would be incongruous to have a statue in colonial garb on top of a Renaissance structure). Artist George T. Brewster designed the statue, Gorham Manufacturing Co. cast it and the 11 foot tall, 500 pound Independent Man statue was placed atop the dome on December 18, 1899.

What is the official Rhode Island drink?
Coffee Milk.  After much loud and passionate political debate in 1993, the Rhode Island State Legislature proclaimed Coffee Milk as "The Official State Drink of Rhode Island" on July 29, 1993.

What is Haven Bros.?
Haven Brothers is the diner that takes up evening residence outside Providence City Hall.
“You’re not a Rhode Islander if you haven’t visited there at least once” and in 2008 the diner traveled to New York City to be featured on the Today Show with Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera.  Vieira is from East Providence and Lauer hosted PM Magazine here in Rhode Island.

Why are the words "What Cheer Netop" on the Great Seal of Providence?
When Roger Williams was forced to leave Rumford (East Providence) because he was a wanted man in Massachusetts Bay Colony, he crossed the river (Providence River) where he met the Netop indians, a subtribe of the Sogkocates (Seaconke) indians.  They greeted him saying, "What Cheer Netop."   This has a generally accepted meaning as "Greetings Friend" but more literally is a more respectful "Greetings one of us."  Netop's were a family tribe and were under the protection and control of the Seaconke Wampanoag, the home tribe of Chief Massasoit who had sanctioned Williams presence and even given him land in Rumford a year before.