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the handle on rhode island

  • "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," Rhode Island has the longest official name in the U.S., despite being the smallest state.

  • Rhode Island was the first of the original 13 colonies to declare independence from Britain on May 4, 1776.

  • The White Horse Tavern in Newport, est in 1673, is the oldest operating tavern in the United States and has hosted colonial leaders and pirates alike.

  • Providence was the first city in the U.S. to use sidewalks in the early 19th century, revolutionizing urban pedestrian life.

  • Coffee milk, made by mixing milk with coffee syrup, is a Rhode Island staple and so popular that it was declared the state’s official drink in 1993.

  • The Westminster Arcade in Providence, built in 1828, is the oldest indoor shopping mall in America and is still open today.

  • Rhode Island is known for its “stuffies” clams stuffed with a mixture of breadcrumbs, herbs, and spices.

  • Newport is home to one of the oldest polo grounds in the U.S. The Newport International Polo Series is still held here, attracting fans from all over.

  • With 400 miles of coastline, all of Rhode Island’s beaches are public by law. The only state in the country without private beaches.

  • Touro Synagogue in Newport, built in 1763, is the oldest standing synagogue in the United States.

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