ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOK OF
                   BLOCK ISLAND,  RI.

Designated one of the twelve "last great places in the Western Hemisphere" by The Nature Conservancy, Block Island is just 12 miles off the coast of Rhode Island.

Incredibly, there is a place within an easy day's drive from anywhere in the Northeast which can take you back a century in time. A place where the land meets the sea with rugged bluffs and miles of golden beaches. A place where the rolling green landscape is dotted with brightly painted cottages and sparkling ponds. A place which welcomes you with old Victorian hotels, intimate inns, and friendly B&Bs.

Come bike our winding roads, walk our peaceful greenways, swim and sun along our shores. Relax or take in the night life, as you choose.

Insulated, -- but not isolated -- by the Atlantic Ocean, Block Island is just an hour away from the Rhode Island Mainland by ferry and just a few minutes by air. To find almost everything you need to know about visiting our special Island, browse on!

This web site was produced by Henry duPont, Offshore Services, LTD, PO Box 457, Block Island, RI 02807. Our goal is to publish an informative visitors guide to Block Island.

We offer free listings in our directory for all Block Island businesses. We offer extended listings links to your site and web page design and hosting for a modest fee. For information on getting a listing or your own web page, call us at (401) 466-2875.
This site is being updated daily. We welcome any comments, suggestions and corrections. Email address: webmaster@block-island-ri.com © 1996, 1997, 1998 Offshore Services, Ltd, All Rights Reserved.
Block Island VacationsTM is a registered trademark, All Rights Reserved
Access counter: 52903 since 6/12/96

 Greetings from the Town of New Shoreham

Town of New Shoreham
P.O. Drawer 220
Block Island, RI 02807

Dear Visitor,

On behalf of the Town Council and the residents of Block Island, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our web site. Block Island is a beautiful Island 12 miles south of the Rhode Island coast which offers an unspoiled rural setting for residents and visitors alike. The Island offers a rich history, miles of sandy beaches, and a wealth of activities including fishing, boating, biking, swimming and - my personal favorites - walking and bird watching.

We take pride in our reputation as one of New England's most progressive towns with respect to environmental protection, wildlife conservation, and open space preservation. In our efforts to maintain Block Island's character, we ask our visitors to respect the Island's fragile environment. When you visit our Island please join these conservation efforts and go easy on our water and power. You will help reduce the load on our limited resources and make your visit a more enjoyable experience for everyone. Thank you for your interest. We look forward to your visit.

 
 

About the Town

The Town of New Shoreham, Rhode Island PO Drawer 220, Block Island, RI 02807
Incorporated in 1672 as the only town on the island of Block Island, New Shoreham is the smallest town in the smallest state in the United States. Access to the island is by boat or plane only. Block Island has a single source aquifer... please conserve and protect fresh water!
You should know before you visit... New Shoreham is now the only town in Rhode Island with no incidence of rabies. Please be prepared to document your pet's current rabies vaccinations!

Town Offices and Services

Emergency Police, Fire or Rescue: 911
Town Hall: (401) 466-3200 Open Mon - Fri, 9:00 - 3:00, Summer Saturdays 9:00 - 1:00
Police: (401) 466-3220
Island Free Library: (401) 466-3233 Closed Mondays
Transfer Station: Year round Tues, Wed & Sun 7:00 - 1:00 (and Mon, Fri & Sat in Summer)
Block Island School: (401) 466-5600
Medical Center (Doctor's Office): (401) 466-2974 office hours Mon - Fri.

Historic North Light

One of two existing lighthouses on Block Island, the granite North Light was built in 1867, the forth lighthouse on its site, to warn ships from the treacherous shoals off the northernmost tip of the island. The lighthouse is surrounded by beach grass, sand dunes and wild roses on 143 acres of wildlife refuge and conservation land at Sandy Point. The lighthouse is now open to the public as the North Light Interpretive Center, and features informative exhibits about Block Island's seafaring past.
Open weekends Memorial Day to Columbus Day, 10:00 to 5:00, and daily from June 20 to mid-September. Admission: adults $2.00, under 12: free. Help with the ongoing restoration of this beautiful and historic building's tower and second floor-buy a commemorative brick for the site. For more information, Contact: North Light Commission, PO Box 1183, Block Island RI 02807. Visit The North Light web page courtesy of Lighthouses of New England.

Block Island Harbor Information:

Harbormaster at Block Island (401) 466-3204; VHF Channel 9, 12 or 16
Coast Guard at Pt. Judith RI (401) 783-3021; VHF Channel 16 or 22
Old Harbor Dockmaster (401) 466-3235
New Harbor (Great Salt Pond): There are 90 town owned rental moorings (lime green) in the southwest corner of the Great Salt Pond. The nightly mooring fee is $30.00, on a first come, first serve basis. Vessels over 40 ft. contact Harbormaster on VHF Channel 12.
The Great Salt Pond is a Federally designated no discharge harbor. All marine toilets must be properly sealed to prevent discharge of sewage overboard. The Town provides free pumpout service to all vessels in New Harbor, seven days a week in the summer from 7:00 am to 11:00 and from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Call pumpout vessel on channel 73.

The Island and Its History

Block Island was formed about 12,000 years ago when the glacier from the last Ice Age finally subsided leaving the sandy moraine which now makes up Long Island, Block Island, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. In prehistoric times, a Native Indian tribe called the Manisses lived here as hunters and gathers. Shell heaps and fire pits dating back hundreds of years before the time of Christ have been found here.

The European settlers who arrived in 1661 found a gently rolling forested landscape dotted with hundreds of fresh water ponds. They established a farming and fishing community which slowly grew from a population of 25 to about 1350 at the time of the American Civil War. It was at this time that Island resident Nicholas Ball foresaw that a safe harbor would attract the steamboat traffic which plied Block Island Sound on the busy New York to Providence and New Bedford routes. He convinced the Federal Government to build a breakwater at "Old Harbor" thus giving the Island its first real harbor. Within 20 years, a number of large Victorian Hotels were built for the visiting steamship passengers and the Island's reputation as a magnificent vacation resort was established.

With the demise of the steamship to theautomotive age, so came the decline of Block Island as a Victorian resort community. By the middle of the 20th century, the Island had reverted back primarily to farming and fishing. The year-round population fell to below 500 and the magnificent Victorian hotels sat mostly vacant.

In the 1960s, the Island began to be rediscovered. Visitors who were enchanted by the unspoiled landscape and beautiful beaches started to buy property and soon their summer cottages began to dot the countryside. One by one, the rustic hotels were restored and the village as it is today began to take form. In the real estate boom of the 1980s, a number of large development projects were proposed. These projects, which were not typical of the cottage style construction found elsewhere on the Island, were vigorously opposed by grass roots environmental and conservation groups and by a town government which was unwilling to let Block Island go the way of dozens of other coastal communities which had been ruined by over development.

Today Block Island sits at the crossroads: an Island whose appeal, which comes from its unspoiled nature, is now threatened by the very popularity which it attracts. Some feel that the Island can be spared the overdevelopment which ravaged many other coastal communities by planning and incorporating growth-pacing mechanisms to protect its unspoiled character. Others who are less far sighted and perhaps more economically motivated disagree. If you are interested in helping preserve Block Island's unique character, visit Block Island's environmental protection and conservation organizations in the next section.

The Island and its Environment

Formed by glaciers 12,000 years ago, Block Island is made up of a diverse array of habitats such as morainal grasslands, beaches, sand dunes, maritime scrubland, salt and brackish ponds and various freshwater wetland ecosystems. These habitats support a rich diversity of wildlife, including over forty species classified as rare or endangered. As such, Block Island is one of the most ecologically significant areas in the Northeast. Thousands of migratory shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors and songbirds also depend on the Island as a critical stopover point on their journey north and south along the Atlantic Flyway.

The dominant vegetation type on the Island has been described as maritime scrubland, made up of tall shrubs such as shad, arrowwood and bayberry and dense understory vegetation. This community is associated with areas that are exposed to offshore winds and salt spray. Most of the fruit-bearing shrubs found in the scrubland provide an important food source for migrating songbirds, and provide excellent nesting cover for the state-wide rare Northern Harrier, or Marsh Hawk. Shrubs also provide habitat for the common Ring Necked Pheasant and American Woodcock. The highest concentrations of endangered species occur in the open grassland habitat, most notably at the Lewis-Dickens Farm in the southwest of the Island. Grassland has been almost continuously maintained since the advent of agriculture on Block Island. Species of note include the regionally rare Grasshopper Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper and the federally endangered American Burying Beetle. The American Burying Beetle is now found only in two places, with Block Island holding the more viable population. The state-endangered Northern Harrier relies on these grasslands for food.

Block Island beaches are home to many species of plants and animals which are ecologically significant and fragile. Beaches are interesting as ecosystems because they are in a state of constant flux. Some changes act on a scale of days, like waves, tides and wind. Others, like storms and human use, operate on longer time scales. Plants and animals must be able to survive very dry conditions, flooding, shifting sands, and other varied elements of life in the intertidal zone, the beach, and the dunes. However, these species depend on relatively calm, stable conditions during summer. Fragile plants that are not able to resist trampling by foot or vehicle tend to grow on beaches. These fragile plants are responsible for the stabilization of dunes; root systems hold them in place. Erosion of dunes leads to erosion of the beach and of the Island. Because of overuse, most rare species occur on the less heavily used beaches. Both Piping Plovers and Least Terns used to nest on the east beaches on Block Island, but have been extirpated in the last twenty years.

Please remember to do everything you can to reduce your impact on our fragile ecosystem. (Thanks to The Nature Conservancy, Block Island Field office, for contributing this section)

Environmental Organizations

Attractions

Points of Interest

Getting Here

[regional map display]

Part of Block Island's intrigue is that one must take a plane or boat to get here. The small inconvenience of transport to the Island is far outweighed by the secluded island atmosphere. Regular scheduled airlines and ferry service is available. Ample parking is available at nearby airports and ferry landings. Charter flights are also available. Look under Air Service for more information.

Useful Information

Lodging

Block Island has at least five flavors of places for visitors to stay. For specific information, look under ACCOMMODATIONS in the Directory.
  1. Hotels: A number of large Victorian Hotels which were built before the turn of the century can be found in the Old Harbor Area. These usually have amenities such as a restaurant in the building.
  2. Inns: Have 10 rooms or less and offer a more intimate setting.
  3. Bed and Breakfasts: are usually a private home which caters to guests. They can be found in every corner of the Island.
  4. Rooms for rent: can be found in a number of private homes.
  5. Marinas and moorings are available for our yachting visitors.
  6. House rentals: Over 400 summer homes are rented by the week. Call one of the realtors in the DIRECTORY to get a listing.

Special Events

Block Island has many weekend festivals and other special events. Notable events are BI Race Week for sailing yachts (3rd week in June), Fourth of July Parade, August Art Festival, and the Columbus Day Harvest Festival. Block Island is on the "Atlantic Flyway" for migratory birds and is a favorite destination for bird watchers in September and October. Click here to see the special events calendar

Getting Around

Block Island's compact form allows visitors to travel between harbors or between the village and the beach with a short walk or a bike ride. You will probably find that bringing or renting a bicycle is much more enjoyable than ferrying over your car. Most of the hotels and inns have courtesy cars, and a taxi ride to a remote part of the Island is a quick and inexpensive proposition.

Beach Use

Block Island is famous for its miles of unspoiled beaches. Choose the Fred Benson Town Beach for beach concessions and lifeguards or a secluded beach in a remote part of the island. There are no private beaches on Block Island. We ask you to keep your dog on a leash and please not to drive on the beaches.

Public Restrooms

Public facilities are available in Old and New Harbors, the Airport, at the Town Beach, most town facilities and at all sit-down eating establishments. A new restroom facility is planned for Old Harbor. (Spring 1998)

Drinking

Beer, wine and liquor are served at most restaurants and (of course) bars. Drinking in public places or in taxis will not endear you to peace officers. (Open container law).

Camping

There is no provision for camping on Block Island unless you are still a member of the Boy Scouts and have your Scout Master's permission. Overnight sleeping on the beaches is not permitted.

Golf

Sorry no golf courses have been seen on the Island since the Vail Hotel and Country Club closed down in the 1950's... The nearest course is in Pt Judith...

Important Numbers

Block Island Chamber of Commerce: 466-2982
Block Island Tourism Council: (800) 383-BIRI
Interstate Navigation (ferry from Pt Judith), (401) 783-4613
State Airport (401) 466-5115
Town of New Shoreham: 466-3200
Police: routine business: 466-3220
Island Library: 466-3233

Tourist Information

Block Island Chamber of Commerce

Block Island Chamber of Commerce Web Announcement

Greetings from the Block Island Chamber of Commerce. We may have just what your looking for. We publish a Travel Planner annually for people, such as yourself, interested in visiting Block Island. This travel size booklet is a great resource for planning either a day-trip or a week long vacation on the Island. The Travel Planner includes ferry and plane information, accommodations, Island services, events, and a little about the Island, itself.

Weddings are extremely popular on Block Island due to the abundance of extraordinary settings. If you wish to receive more information about planning a wedding on the Island, we have a listing of Island resources available which is just a phone call away.

We are currently publishing our 1998 Block Island Travel Planner which can be obtained by calling our office at (401) 466-2982. You can call day or night and leave a message on our voice mail which includes your name and mailing address. Be specific about your interests, date of arrival, lodging preferences, and how you heard about Block Island. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

The Block Island Chamber of Commerce Staff
PO Drawer D, Block Island, RI 02807

Block Island Tourism Council

Welcome to Block Island's Web Page! On behalf of the Block Island Tourism Council, I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you to this informational network. We hope that it introduces you to our fine, unique island community, and gives you a better sense of how and where to find the additional information you need to plan your Block Island vacation.

The Block Island Tourism Council, along with the Block Island Chamber of Commerce, is working to preserve the safe, scenic, enjoyable seaside wonderland which has attracted visitors from all over the world for over 150 years. Local organizations have succeeded in their efforts to keep development to a minimum, so our island maintains the "slow," peaceful pace which makes us unique from most commercial seaside resorts.

Please let us be of further assistance to you. Call us at 800-383-2474, ext. 31, or write to us at P.O. Box 356, Block Island, RI 02807, and we will be happy to answer any and all of your questions. Block Islanders are proud of their special island. Come see us to find out why! We look forward to hearing from you.
 
 
By:  Kevin Reid:
Email Address:  kr2767