The original inhabitants of Block Island was a tribe of Narragansett Indians. First charted by Verrazano, a Florentine navigator, in 1524, it was later explored by Adrian Block, Dutch navigator and explorer. He visited Manisses in 1614. In 1661, "Manisses" the Narragansett name for "Island of the Little God", was finally settled by sixteen English families who had migrated from Massachusetts Bay Colony. "Manisses" became known as "Block Island" for the Dutch navigator.
Early Life on Block Island
Block Islands early settlers largely earned a their incomes from land and sea. The mighty Atlantic surf pounded the shores of Block Island throughout the seasons as well as windswept storms that blew inland from the sea. To navigate the rough, rolling surf, early Block Islanders developed a fishing vessel they called the Block Island Double Ender. The island gradually became a delightful vacation spot during the Victoria Era, owing to miles of beachs and advantageous location for fishing. As might be expected, offshore areas abound with shipwrecks and at least two known Uboats from 1925 and 1945.
What to see and Do on Block Island
When it comes to unique vacation spots, Block Island offers much in terms of extraordinary beauty. At only eleven square miles, three miles comprising the sandy beach of Old Harbor, where the breakwater was constructed in 1870, there is much to see and do. Most visitors to Block Island rent a bicycle and travel the entire length of the island in less than two hours. Mohegan's Bluffs, the site of a battle between the Manissee and Mohegan Indians, lies on the southern coast of Block Island. Inland moors are lined with stone walls that are a vision of tranquility for meditative visitors. North Lighthouse is at the northern tip of Block Island.
The "All Season" Beauty of Block Island
Certainly, the summer season attracts the most visitors who find quaint little shops, art galleries, craft displays as they bask under bright sunshine with the sound of the rolling surf in their ears. There are a number of types of seaside lodging available. Since Block Island is only three and a half miles wide and seven miles long in an area of eleven square miles, most of the hotels, restaurants and shops are located at the harbor areas. The harbors are at the midpoint of the eastern and western shores. For convenience of avid hikers, Block Island also has many walking trails, useful after a sumptuous seafood lunch or dinner. Decidely, most visitors choose the New England clam chowder, johnnycakes or lobster rolls as their favorite appetite indulgence. Because Block Island is so picturesque, it's as beautiful in spring, autumn and appears like an old Victorian winter scene when snow falls.
Block Island Historic Landmarks
One of the most architecturally grand landmarks on Block Island is the National Hotel. It was originally built in 1888 when Victorian gentry patronized the charming turn-of-the-century structure. This historic landmark is in every way a tribute to Yankee ingenuity. With an enormous wrap-around veranda that commands the most spectacular view of the Old Harbor and at once, the Atlantic Ocean, the National Hotel is a photographer's most challenging subject to behold. The Southeast Light is another historical landmark on Block Island.
The Essence of Block Island
Traveling back in time to the days of the early settlers, listening to the sounds of lapping waves and strolling along sandy beaches in summer, watching breathlessly as flowers bloom in spring, having a long, leisurely walk with the riotous colors of autumn or nestling beside a warm fire as snow falls in winter is idyllic by most people's interpretations of an island of scenic history and beauty.
