"The Ocean State"

Welcome to Rhode Island

Rhode Island/Massachusetts border on I-195
August 7, 2009

Every fifth grader should be able to tell you that Rhode Island is the smallest state in the union. But did you know the official name of the state of Rhode Island is "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations?" It's true. The name comes from the merging of two colonies in the modern-day Rhode Island area, the area around Providence (duh) with the region containing Newport. But despite its size and goofy name, the Ocean State does boast an impressive shoreline and given its small size, you are never far from the coast at any time in Rhode Island. Boats of all sizes are constantly making their way across Narragansett Bay, often making a picturesque backdrop across the region.

Not to brag, but that is a pretty clear picture of the welcome sign, yes? Unobstructed and easy to read? Well, that wasn't the case when I pulled up to the sign along a busy stretch of interstate outside of Providence. A large tree branch was covering most of the top third of the sign, and that was unacceptable in my book. I walked over to the tree and pushed the branch backwards and moved it behind another, allowing the second branch to block the first for me. Once that was done, it almost seemed like it wasn't worth the effort. I was disappointed that the full name of the state wasn't include anywhere on the sign, and the Rhode Island part almost gets lost, given the large font face of the state's nickname below it.

Welcome to Providence

August 7, 2009

Located along the aptly-named Providence River, the city of Providence looks like a city that is trying to rebuild itself. It has a beautiful riverwalk throughout the downtown region and a host of new buildings going up around the capitol. But despite the appearance of a renaissance in downtown, it still seemed a little rough around the edges. It is obvious the city was established long before the invention of the automobile, as the city's street layout is atrocious. Countless one-ways and streets that only are two blocks long became easily frustrating, and trying to park along these narrow streets was the ultimate driver's test.

This capitol appeared to be camera-shy, as it proved tricky to find a suitable photography location. It is located on top of a small hill, with a grove of trees right at the base of the front steps. These trees blocked most of the building from the sidewalk out front, so I decided to walk to the rear of the building. This also didn't work, as the Department of Transportation building was right across the street. Despite standing in the doorway alcove, I still couldn't fit the entire building in the frame. Finally, I walked down Francis St. across a bridge that provided enough elevation over the trees to satisfy me (despite Providence Place Mall being in the lower left corner). It seems to be a pretty standard design, with the dome being slightly larger than most. I did like the miniature domes/minarets at the base of the main rotunda.

Miscellaneous Rhode Island Symbols

State Route Sign

License Plate

Seal

Quarter