Rhode Island State Government’s Historical Lethargy

I greatly admire the zeal and energy of the volunteer Battle of Rhode Island Association in attempting to build and maintain the American command post on Butts Hill in Portsmouth.  It can become the state’s major historical site.
Unfortunately, Butts Hill is in the wrong state.  For over 50 years I have worked in vain to get our state government more involved in observing and promoting Rhode Island’s great history.

Despite my efforts and those of several others, we remain one of three states without a state historical museum, and, as the so-called Ocean State, we have given away all of the historic vessels or their replicas that were once berthed here – the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”), now in Charlestown, Massachusetts; the USS Constellation (Baltimore, Maryland); the Sloop Providence (Alexandria, Virginia); the HMS Rose (San Diego, California); the Newport-Jamestown Ferry (Portland, Maine); and the Brava packet Ernestina (New Bedford, Massachusetts).  Rhode Island is the graveyard of historic ships. 

Add to this neglect is the fact that the state lost most of its amazing historic aircraft when the Quonset Point Air Museum was forced to close because it failed to receive necessary state funding.

With the 250th Anniversary of American independence to be celebrated in 2026, the state and its 250th Commission should make the development of the Battle of Rhode Island site in Portsmouth its major long-term project.  A beautiful, educational, state historical park informing its visitors concerning what I have described in a recent booklet as Rhode Island’s Contributions to the Founding of the United States is a long overdue project.  It will promote not only Rhode Island’s self-image but its tourism as well.

The victory of the patriots on August 29, 1778 in New England’s largest military battle, ensured an orderly and safe withdrawal of American forces from Aquidneck Island after an unsuccessful siege of the British in Newport.  I have called it “the American Dunkirk.”

The role of the so-called Black Regiment, composed of former Black and Native American slaves, in helping to hold the line against German mercenaries in that battle is worthy of national celebration.  Though few in number (somewhere between 100 and 125), the pioneering and symbolic significance of these combatants is far larger.

It is sometimes said “Rhode Island gets no respect” when major Rhode Island events such as the 1772 burning of the Gaspee are ignored or overlooked in the coming of the American Revolution in favor of much lesser actions such as the so-called Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. Unfortunately, our state leaders over the past several decades have not learned that respect must be earned.  We simply rest on our laurels by repeatedly refusing to supply public funding to promote and perpetuate our historical achievements.  Our private historical and preservation societies, a few energetic, but single-themed, volunteer organizations, and a very small group of Rhode Island historians shed the only light on our past.

Hopefully, a national observance such as the 250th celebration of American independence will be a sufficient catalyst to awaken our state government’s historical slumber and reverse Rhode Island’s long neglect of its illustrious history.

Patrick T. Conley

Former Chairman of the 
Rhode Island Bicentennial 
Commission (ri76) and Rhode Island Historian Laureate Emeritus