User:Iuk20/Block Island

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Block Island is an island in the Outer Lands coastal archipelago, located approximately 9 miles (14 km) south of mainland Rhode Island and 14 miles (23 km) east of Montauk Point on Long Island. Coterminous with the town of New Shoreham, it is part of Washington County and marks the southernmost point of the state. Historically known as Manisses ("Island of the Little God") by the Narragansett people, the island was renamed after Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, who charted it in 1614.

The island is a premier New England summer destination, famous for its dramatic Mohegan Bluffs and historic lighthouses—the North Light and the Southeast Light. It is globally recognized for its environmental preservation; nearly 44% of the island is set aside for conservation. Due to its unique "kettle and kame" geology and its role as a vital stopover on the Atlantic Flyway, The Nature Conservancy designated it as one of the twelve "Last Great Places" in the Western Hemisphere.

Indigenous Origins

Long before European contact, the island was inhabited by the Manisses (a branch of the Narragansett people), who called the land Manisses, translating to "Island of the Little God." The Manisses were a maritime and agrarian society, utilizing the island’s hundreds of freshwater ponds and coastal resources. Archeological evidence and oral histories indicate a sophisticated culture that managed the island's unique ecosystem for centuries.

European Exploration and Colonial Conflict

The first recorded European sighting was by Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524, who compared the island's shape to Rhodes in Greece. However, the island takes its modern name from Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, who charted it in 1614.

Colonial interest turned violent in 1636 during the Pequot War, when a Massachusetts expedition led by John Endicott attacked the island following the death of trader John Oldham. Permanent English settlement began in 1661 when sixteen families purchased the island. Their landing at Cow Cove is memorialized today by Settler's Rock, which lists the names of the original families. The town was officially incorporated as New Shoreham in 1672.

Article body (Section 2) Conservation and Ecology

Recognized in 1991 by The Nature Conservancy as one of the twelve "Last Great Places" in the Western Hemisphere, Block Island serves as a global model for coastal preservation. This designation highlights the island as a "wildlife hotspot" containing rare habitats that have largely vanished elsewhere in New England. The movement to preserve the island was famously catalyzed in the 1970s to protect Rodman's Hollow, a deep glacial outwash basin, from residential construction. Through the persistent efforts of the Block Island Conservancy, the Land Trust, and various federal agencies, approximately 44% of the island is now legally protected from development.

his expansive preserved acreage provides a critical sanctuary for biodiversity, serving as one of the last remaining stable habitats for the endangered American burying beetle. Furthermore, the island's strategic location 13 miles offshore makes it a vital "refueling station" for over 250 species of birds traveling the Atlantic Flyway. During the autumn migration, the island is world-renowned for its dense concentration of songbirds and raptors. Additionally, the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge at the northern tip provides essential nesting grounds for the state's largest gull colony and threatened species such as the Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher.

Article body (Section 3) Arts and Cultures.

Annual events

One of the most popular celebrations on the island is the Fourth of July Parade. Anybody can enter a float into the parade, as long as it coordinates with the theme of that respective year. For example, the theme in 2016 was sports and recreation. In addition to the parade, there is a fireworks display on the beach on the night of July 3. The parade is on the fourth and is judged by officials who award prizes in three categories: family floats, company floats, and overall floats. They also give out one extra prize for the overall category which is the grand prize, consisting of $500.

Every summer, the island hosts Block Island Race Week, a competitive, week-long sailboat race. In odd years, the event is held by the Storm Trysail Club, and on even years by the Block Island Race Week. Yachts compete in various classes, sailing courses in Block Island Sound and circumnavigating the island.

Every year, the island also hosts the Block Island Film Festival, an international film festival established in 2018 by journalist and filmmaker Cassius Shuman. The festival aims to promote independent works from local and international filmmakers, showcasing motion pictures, documentaries, short films and student short films.

Block Island Pride is a pride celebration held every summer, that commemorates and supports the LGBTQ+ community. The event features a variety of activities, including parades, live performances, and educational workshops, promoting inclusivity and diversity on the island.

Tourist attractions

Southeast Lighthouse is located at the southeast corner of the island on the Mohegan Trail. The lighthouse was constructed in 1875 and remains to this day an active US Coast Guard navigational aid. The lighthouse was moved in 1993, in danger of falling off the bluffs due to erosion. In addition to offering tours of the tower, the lighthouse has a museum that is open during the summer season.

The Mohegan Bluffs are located a short distance to the west of Southeast Lighthouse. The bluffs are the site of a pre-colonial battle between the invading Mohegan and the native Niantic, in which the Mohegan were driven off the edge of the tall cliffs to their deaths on the beach below. A staircase of 141 steps leads to the bottom of these clay cliffs and looks out over the Atlantic. On clear days, Montauk, New York, can be seen in the distance from the southern and western sides of the island.

Rodman's Hollow is a 230-acre (93 ha) glacial outwash basin, near the southern shore of the island. The hollow has several walking trails.

North Lighthouse is located at Sandy Point on the northern tip of Block Island. The North Lighthouse warns boaters of a sandbar extending from this end of the island. The surrounding dunes are part of the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, home to many species, including the piping plover and American burying beetle. A short walk away from the North Lighthouse lies the tip of the island, with ocean on both sides of a thin strip of land.

The Block Island Historical Society Museum is located near the downtown area and contains a broad array of Block Island artifacts.

U-853 is a U-boat wreck 7 miles (11 km) east of the island, lying in 130 ft (40 m) of water. Recreational divers frequently visit the wreck, though at least three have died there.

The Block Island Wind Farm, the first offshore wind farm built in the United States, is located 3 miles (4.8 km) from south-east of the island. The five turbines, each 600 ft (180 m) high, commenced commercial operation in December 2016.

The island has at least 40 restaurants, but most are closed outside of tourist season; mainland restaurants use New England Airlines to deliver food to the island.

Parks and recreation

Crescent Beach on Block Island July, 2015

There are 17 miles of beach on Block Island. Crescent Beach can be viewed from the Pt. Judith Ferry and the New London Express Ferry on the way to the island. It contains five smaller beaches: Fred Benson Town Beach (popularly known as State Beach), Surf Beach, Scotch Beach, Rouse's Beach, and Mansion Beach, all of which are located on Corn Neck Road. North of Mansion Beach are Clayhead and Pots & Kettles. Clayhead is a set of cliffs which can be seen from the ferry in from Point Judith or New London. This area is rocky and contains iron-rich clay deposits, and is a popular area for shell and rock hunting.

Cow Cove, Settler's Rock, and Sandy Point make up the northernmost point of Block Island where the North Lighthouse is located. Settler's Rock is located at Cow Cove, where the settlers landed and swam to shore bringing with them the island's first cows, which they pushed off the boats and forced ashore. Attached to the rock is a plaque naming the original settlers of Block Island. Coastguard Beach (or "the channel") is situated between the Great Salt Pond and the ocean on the north west side of the island. Ballard's Beach is on the south side of the Block Island Ferry Dock and jetty. Bluffs Beach (or Vail) is set at the bottom of Mohegan Bluffs.

The west and south sides are known for the surf especially in autumn. Black Rock Beach and Town Beach have the best surf conditions. Dorie's Cove and Grace's Cove also produce ridable waves.

Block Island also hosts an office of The Nature Conservancy. The Conservancy named Block Island as one of its top 12 sites in the Western Hemisphere, and a large portion of the island is legally protected and set aside for conservation.

Industry

The island is known for participating in the commercial aquaculture and kelp farming sectors.

Transportation

The island is connected year-round by a ferry to Point Judith, and in summer to New London, Connecticut; Orient and Montauk, New York; and Newport, Rhode Island. The traditional ferry takes about an hour to reach the island from Point Judith and is the only way to bring a car to the island as it is able to carry them. A high-speed ferry on the same route takes 35 minutes but cannot take cars, and another high-speed ferry from New London takes just over an hour.

Ferryboat Carol Jean departing Block Island in July 2015

New England Airlines Britten-Norman Islander at Block Island

Bikes are a popular form of transportation on the island, as cars are generally discouraged. Additionally, mopeds are quite popular, especially with tourists, since they are easy to rent and drive. This popularity has led to over six moped rental shops on the island, but the same popularity and ease of use has led to many incidents over 40 years with reckless or bad drivers, meaning that moped accidents are a common problem on the island.

New England Airlines offers regularly scheduled 12-minute flights to Block Island State Airport from Westerly, Rhode Island.

References

• The Nature Conservancy. "Block Island: Rhode Island". nature.org.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Block Island National Wildlife Refuge". fws.gov.