About Rhode Island

Rhode Island packs an extraordinary amount of American history into its 1,545 square miles. It is the smallest state in the Union by area, but it was the first to declare independence, the birthplace of American industrial manufacturing, and the origin point of religious freedom in the New World, ideas that shaped the entire American experiment.

The state's character is defined by Narragansett Bay, which cuts 28 miles inland and gives Rhode Island more coastline per square mile than almost any other state. Providence, the capital and largest city, has transformed itself from a struggling post-industrial city into a vibrant university town anchored by Brown University and RISD. Newport, at the bay's mouth, is one of the most historically layered cities in America, a colonial port, a Gilded Age playground, and a world sailing capital all in one.

Rhode Island has historically punched far above its weight, whether in revolutionary politics, industrial innovation, or the arts. Its motto, a single word, "Hope", is the most concise in the nation, and somehow perfectly captures a state that has always managed to make more out of less.