Block Island is an Island about 13 miles off of the coast of Rhode Island. It is the result of a glacier that was relocated during the last glacial maximum, rounghly 22,000 years ago.
Originally settled by the Mannisean Indians it was given the name of "Manisses" meaning "Island of the Little God".
In the Early 1500s Giovanni da Verrazzano an Italian explored sighted the island and named it "Claudia" for the Queen of France and wife of Francis I.
In 1614 Adrian Block a Dutch explorer began to settle the island and named it "Block Island" after himself.
Through the 1600s and into the Pequot War the Indian population of roughly 1,500 people, that survived on the most active shellfish bed on the east coast, were irradicated and within 100 years were reduced down to 51 people. This was Block Islands first genocide on record.
The town adopted the name of "New Shoreham" in 1672 to gain government recognition. This was a time when Block Island became a hot spot for pirates to attempt to seek refuge, but they were often captured and hung.
Block Island was used as an enemy approach warning, from those who lived on the mainland during the Revolutionary War, as fire was lit by turret on Beacon Hill, the highest point on the island.
During the war of 1812, Block Island became a point of strategy and refueling.
The first North Lighthouse was built in 1829, the first of five that were washed out to sea. The last to be built was constructed in 1867 and it is still standing today. The Southeast lighthouse was only built once in 1873, the lighthouse was moved away from the erroding bluffs in 1993.
In 1870 The Old Harbor was constructed, as Block Island did not have any natural harbors to utilize. The New Harbor's construction followed suit not to long after, in 1895.
The Block Island Nature Conservancy was established in 1971, as Rob Lewis championed the preservation of Rodman's Hollow, leading the way to the 44% of the Island that is still perserved land today.
To this day Block Island is one of the most Solar, Wind, and Hydro resource rich areas in the country. The first ever off shore wind farm in the United States, refered to as Deepwater Wind, was constructed in 2016 and began operation at the end of 2016.
Originally settled by the Mannisean Indians it was given the name of "Manisses" meaning "Island of the Little God".
In the Early 1500s Giovanni da Verrazzano an Italian explored sighted the island and named it "Claudia" for the Queen of France and wife of Francis I.
In 1614 Adrian Block a Dutch explorer began to settle the island and named it "Block Island" after himself.
Through the 1600s and into the Pequot War the Indian population of roughly 1,500 people, that survived on the most active shellfish bed on the east coast, were irradicated and within 100 years were reduced down to 51 people. This was Block Islands first genocide on record.
The town adopted the name of "New Shoreham" in 1672 to gain government recognition. This was a time when Block Island became a hot spot for pirates to attempt to seek refuge, but they were often captured and hung.
Block Island was used as an enemy approach warning, from those who lived on the mainland during the Revolutionary War, as fire was lit by turret on Beacon Hill, the highest point on the island.
During the war of 1812, Block Island became a point of strategy and refueling.
The first North Lighthouse was built in 1829, the first of five that were washed out to sea. The last to be built was constructed in 1867 and it is still standing today. The Southeast lighthouse was only built once in 1873, the lighthouse was moved away from the erroding bluffs in 1993.
In 1870 The Old Harbor was constructed, as Block Island did not have any natural harbors to utilize. The New Harbor's construction followed suit not to long after, in 1895.
The Block Island Nature Conservancy was established in 1971, as Rob Lewis championed the preservation of Rodman's Hollow, leading the way to the 44% of the Island that is still perserved land today.
To this day Block Island is one of the most Solar, Wind, and Hydro resource rich areas in the country. The first ever off shore wind farm in the United States, refered to as Deepwater Wind, was constructed in 2016 and began operation at the end of 2016.