7 Unique Trivia Facts About Rhode Island You Might Not Have Heard Before
By Beth Price-Williams|Published January 04, 2024
×
Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
No matter how long we’ve been in Rhode Island, we probably all stumble across little gems of information that are new to us and that are extremely helpful when we find ourselves engrossed in a game of trivia. What are your favorites? Let us know in the comments, but before you do, how many of these facts about Rhode Island did you already know?
1. The longest baseball game in history was played in Rhode Island.
The Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox hosted the Rochester Red Wings on April 18, 1981. The game dragged on for 33 innings over more than eight hours. Two famous players were on the roster - Cal Ripken Jr. and Wade Boggs – and the win eventually went to Pawtucket.
2. Rhode Island and New York share a water border.
A rock memorial that dates back to 1676, Nine Men’s Misery pays homage to nine colonists who were killed during King Philip’s War. Tucked on the grounds of Cumberland Monastery, the monument sits along the half-mile Nine Men’s Misery Trail.
Next time you’re exploring near Narragansett Bay, keep an eye out for Cumberlandite, which is usually black or brown with white spots. The rock is only found in “large concentrations” in a four-acre area near West Wrentham Road.
5. The first discount department store in the United States was in Rhode Island.
Clocking in at 811 feet, Jerimoth Hill is Rhode Island’s tallest point. You can reach the spot, which is identified with a marker, in Foster. Look for the sign on the side of the road then follow a short path to the marker.
7. The oldest carousel in the U.S. is in Rhode Island.
Nestled in Watch Hill, the Flying Horses Carousel is the oldest in the United States. Did you know, though, that it was built in New York (or, at least, that’s what people believe) and moved to Westerly in 1883? It was part of a traveling carnival that left town and left the merry-go-round behind.
What are your favorite unique facts about Rhode Island? Share them with us in the comments! Up for some more interesting Rhode Island trivia? Here are 12 facts about the Newport Cliff Walk you might not have heard (yet).
Ready to get out there and explore Rhode Island? Slip on your hiking shoes, and set off on one of the best hiking trails in Rhode Island.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
