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A historic yellow civic building stands behind a flagpole flying the American flag. — Historical Marker Database

Historic Site

Site of the First Colonial Navy

Rhode Island

125 Main Street East Greenwich Town Hall East Greenwich, RI 02818

East Greenwich, RI

Site of the marker to the First Colonial Navy

Historical Marker Database

On June 12, 1775, the General Assembly for the state of Rhode Island met on this site and enacted a resolution to charter and arm two sloops for the protection of trade and appointed Abraham Whipple to be commander with the rank and power of commodore of both vessels, thus creating the First Colonial Navy of the Revolution. On June 15, 1775, the sloop Katy participated in the first naval battle of the Revolution off Jamestown, RI, and was renamed the Providence; this ship became the first vessel authorized for the Continental Navy, the first to land Marines in battle, and the first command of John Paul Jones.

What's Nearby

Explore more of The Liberty Trail by visiting these nearby attractions.

Historic Site

A historic yellow civic building stands behind a flagpole flying the American flag.

Site of the First Colonial Navy

East Greenwich, RI 02818

0

Site of the First Colonial Navy

Historic Site

Colonial Home of General James Mitchell Varnum

James Mitchell Varnum House, East Greenwich

East Greenwich, RI 02818

0.092935692758411

James Mitchell Varnum House, East Greenwich, RI

Historic Site

A small white historic building with four columns and green shutters stands at a roadside; the sign above the door reads “Kentish Guards 1774.”

Kentish Guards Armory and Drill Field

East Greenwich, RI 02818

0.11592894381772

Kentish Guards Armory and Drill Field

Historic Site

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Museum

A small fortress like brick building sits on a street corner, with arched wooden doors, battlements, and a nearby cannon.

Varnum Armory Museum

East Greenwich, RI 02818

0.21851936242484

Varnum Armory Museum

Historic Site

Colonial era 2-story manor house with 9 windows trimmed in white, with 2 chimneys and a red cannon in the front yard.

The Major General Nathanael Greene Homestead

Coventry, RI 02816

8.5660195616948

The Major General Nathanael Greene Homestead

Historic Site

Bronze marker on boulder to commemorate spot of the burning of the Gaspee

Gaspee Monument

Warwick, RI 02888

12.377172660316

Gaspee Monument

Historic Site

Red gambrel-roof farmhouse built in 1754 with center fireplace

Joy Homestead, Cranston, RI

Cranston, RI 02921

13.154763043432

Joy Homestead, Cranston, RI

Historic Site

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Marker

General Lafayette Marker, Bristol, Rhode

Bristol, RI 02809

14.291374768452

General Lafayette Marker, Bristol, Rhode Island (RI-3)

Historic Site

Granite monument to 1st Rhode Island African American Regiment

1st Rhode Island Regiment

Portsmouth, RI 02871

17.293542646909

1st Rhode Island Regiment

Historic Site

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Fort/Outpost

A sunlit grassy field stretches toward a dense line of leafy trees, with long shadows cast across the ground.

Butts Hill Fort

Portsmouth, RI 02871

17.410697185027

Butts Hill Fort

Historic Site

A rectangular historical marker to British General Prescott mounted on a red wooden wall.

Prescott's Headquarters, Middletown, RI

Middletown, RI 02842

17.987147310274

Prescott's Headquarters, Middletown, RI

Historic Site

Tombstones in the Friends Meeting House Cemetery, Portsmouth, RI1

Friends Meeting House, Portsmouth, RI

Portsmouth, RI 02871

18.050923105981

Friends Meeting House, Portsmouth, RI

Historic Site

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Museum

A large brick building with white trim and classical details stands behind a tall white fence, framed by autumn trees under a partly cloudy sky.

John Brown House Museum, Providence, RI

Providence, RI 02906

18.317221949815

John Brown House Museum, Providence, RI

Historic Site

A reddish‑brown historic wooden house with tall narrow windows and an American flag at the entrance stands behind a matching rod iron fence.

Governor Stephen Hopkins House

Providence, RI 02903

18.489587243858

Governor Stephen Hopkins House

Historic Site

A three‑story brick brownstone building with symmetrical windows and a central stone‑framed entrance stands behind a black streetlamp.

Old State House, Providence, RI

Providence, RI 02903

18.88846471692

Old State House, Providence, RI

Historic Site

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Museum

A white colonial‑style building with a central staircase and double doors is framed by bright pink flowering trees, with an American flag near the entrance and a clear blue sky overhead.

Naval War College Museum, Newport, RI

Newport, RI 02841

20.014701924843

Naval War College Museum, Newport, RI

Historic Site

General Lafayette Marker, Tiverton, Rhode

Tiverton, RI 02878

20.558044862267

General Lafayette Marker, Tiverton, Rhode Island (RI-8)

Historic Site

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Fort/Outpost

A small rocky island with a cream-colored lighthouse and red roof surrounded by water.

Rose Island Lighthouse & Fort Hamiton

Newport, RI 02840

20.573585668741

Rose Island Lighthouse & Fort Hamiton

Historic Site

A small rocky island with a cream-colored lighthouse and red roof surrounded by water.

Rose Island Lighthouse & Fort Hamiton

Newport, RI 02840

20.573585668741

Rose Island Lighthouse & Fort Hamiton

Historic Site

A tall flagpole flying the U.S. flag rises from an open grassy field, with a leafy green tree beside it and a line of trees along the horizon.

Conanicut Battery, Jamestown, RI

Jamestown, RI 02835

20.615804502406

Conanicut Battery, Jamestown, RI

Historic Site

Mid-18th-century Georgian mansion museum with period furnishings.

Hunter House, Newport, RI

Newport, RI 02840

21.715157391399

Hunter House, Newport, RI

Historic Site

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Fort/Outpost

A white stone marker labeled “Green End Fort” stands in a grassy landscape with bare trees and a bright blue sky.

Green End Fort, Middletown, RI

Middletown, RI 02842

21.905984553062

Green End Fort, Middletown, RI

Historic Site

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Museum

Artillery Company of Newport Museum

Newport, RI 02840

22.347073924875

Artillery Company of Newport Museum

Historic Site

A light‑colored historic building with dark shutters and a central double‑door entrance sits on a corner lot, featuring three dormer windows on the roof and a short staircase leading up from the sidewalk.

Vernon House, Newport, RI

Newport, RI 02840

22.419201888724

Vernon House, Newport, RI

Historic Site

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Fort/Outpost

A stone fort wall with an arched entrance rises behind a grassy area where an informational sign, an old cannon, and a picnic table sit under a bright blue sky.

Fort Adams, Newport, RI

Newport, RI 02840

22.482162342869

Fort Adams, Newport, RI