Jamestown and Newport, Rhode Island
Interesting and Useful Information

Jamestown's character is defined by links - to its past and to other places through ferries, bridges and lighthouses.This site provides information on Jamestown, Newport and other nearby areas that can be useful to visitors and residents. For perspective on the present, a brief account of Jamestown and Newport RI History is available.

On this page you will find information about interesting places to visit and things to do in and near Jamestown and Newport, ferry and sightseeing boat services, Narraganett Bay, nearby lighthouses, areas and neighborhoods on Conanicut Island, restaurants in Jamestown, traveling to Jamestown and websites that feature local news.

East Ferry - 1908	East Ferry - 2001

Ferry Service and Sightseeing Boats:

Ferry service hasn't disappeared; but has changed with the times. The Jamestown & Newport Ferry Company, (401) 423-9900, offers trips to Newport every 90 minutes in the summer; with stops at Rose Island, Fort Adams and Goat Island. Round trip fare is $12. See the area the way every traveler used to see it - from the bay. To learn more about the history of local ferry service, visit the Jamestown Museum, 92 Narragansett Avenue. (401) 423-0784

If you prefer a sightseeing tour boat, you can take a one-hour long cruise on one of several vessels operating out of Newport Harbor. You can depart from Goat Island Marina on the Viking Queen (adults $8) (401) 847-6921; cruise on the Motor Vessel Amazing Grace departing from Oldport Marine, Sayer's Wharf at The Newport Yachting Center (401) 847-9109; or explore the area aboard the Spirit of Newport departing from Bowen's Wharf ($9 for adults) (401) 849-3575. All tours cover Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. You can see yachts, racing sailboats, warships, commercial fishing vessels and cargo ships from around the world as you cruise by historic buildings along Newport's waterfront, Goat Island, the Newport Bridge, Rose Island, Jamestown, and other sites like the Clingstone, Hammersmith Farm, Fort Adams, John Nicholas Brown's Estate and Ida Lewis Yacht Club.

Conanicut Island and its Neighborhoods:

Jamestown has a unique character resulting from its particular mix of historic buildings, farmland, woodland and coastal features; its pedestrian-friendly and scenic village center; and its miles of rural roads with little traffic, low stone walls and scenic views across farmland and coastal marshes.

If you would like to get a feel for the character of Conanicut Island's residential neighborhoods, click here for a larger version of this simplified map and follow its links (or those below) to descriptions and photos of a number of areas on the island.   North End     West Reach Estates East Passage Estates     Jamestown Shores                 Shoreby Hill     West Ferry The Village/ East Ferry     Fort Getty     Dumplings   Fort Wetherill     Beavertail

Watson Farm:
While it is not a neighborhood, the Watson Farm, 1796 North Road, certainly qualifies as a special place. It is owned by the Society for Preservation of New England Antiguities, and offers a glimpse into the way life was lived in Jamestown for three hundred years. The main farmhouse was built in 1796.

On the grounds of the 280 acre working farm are cattle, sheep, horses, a large vegetable garden and two miles of picturesque trails. Within the farm are salt water estuaries, swamps, woodlands, haylands, orchards, and open pastures. A visit can be a rich learning experience as well as a reminder of a lifestyle that flourished in many similar seaside farms in Rhode Island. Self-guided and group tours are available. (401) 423-0005.

Jamestown Parks and Recreational Areas:

Beavertail State Park, situated at the southern end of Conanicut Island, contains an historic lighthouse and a lighthouse museum. (Additional information on Beavertail light can be found in the Lighthouses section, below.) The rocky point offers wonderful views of East and West Passages and the Atlantic. The periphery of the park is bordered by large slabs of broken rocks that offer places to climb or to sit and simply enjoy the sights. The rocky areas can be accessed by crossing grass and low brush bordering the shore, or by using stone stairs.

The Fort Getty Recreational Area is just west of Mackerel Cove Beach, off of Beavertail Road. Overlooking West Passage, it offers 25 tentsites and 100 trailer sites for use by campers. During World Wars I and II, it was used for observation and protection of the entrance to Narragansett Bay. The park offers a boat ramp, fishing area, camper services and showers. For more information and campsite reservations call (401) 423-7264.

Fort Wetherill State Park is directly across East Passage from Newport, and open daily for hiking, fishing and picnicing. Its fifty-foot-high granite outcroppings and bluffs and extensive grassy areas with picnic tables provide panoramic views of the Bay and Newport. The fort's history goes back to the Revolutionary War.

Bird viewing areas include the Conanicut Island Sanctuary, located in a reedy area on the Great Creek estuary, just west of the Newport Bridge toll plaza, Potter's Cove, just east of the toll plaza; Beavertail Point; and Sheffield Cove Marsh, which is owned by the Audobon Society of Rhode Island. The marsh is close to sandy, shallow-water Mackerel Cove Beach, a popular swimming area that is located near the northern end of Beavertail Road.

Businesses in Jamestown:

Click here to access the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce list of members with addresses and telephone numbers. Yahoo!'s Yellow Pages is another handy tool for locating specific types of businesses in Jamestown and nearby towns.

Dining in Jamestown:

Click here for a list of Jamestown restaurants with comments on their offerings. Find the restaurant that fits your mood and lifestyle - from very casual to quite upscale.

Visiting Newport:

Just a few minutes away, across the Newport (Pell) Bridge is historic Newport with its mansions, other historical sites, the Cliff Walk, Harbor Walk, bus tours, harbor tours, scenic train rides, museums, restaurants and night spots. Click on this link for a listing of places to go and things to do in Newport.

More Things to See and Do In and Near Jamestown:

Visit an Antique Fire Fighting Equipment Museum:

The Jamestown Fire Department Memorial Museum houses a collection of antique fire fighting equipment, including a horse-drawn 1894 Lafrance steam fire engine that can still pump its 600 gallons per minute rated flow. Admission is free. 50 Narragansett Avenue. (401) 423-0062

Visit the Jamestown Windmill:

Located a mile north of town on North Road, not far from the Watson Farm, the Jamestown windmill was built in 1787 replacing a former windmill that was destroyed during the Revolutionary War. A major restoration was completed in early 2001. The windmill can be seen clearly from North Road. It is officially open from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday in the summer. Admission is free. (401) 423-1798

Learn About Jamestown History:

Housed in a 19th century schoolhouse, the Jamestown Museum contains a collection of ferry system memorabilia, historic photos, maps, and other items that illustrate Jamestown's past. 92 Narragansett Avenue. (401) 423-0784 Admission free.

Visit the Library and Look at Native American and Colonial Artifacts:

The Jamestow Philomenian Library is located at 26 North Road, just north of Narragansett Avenue. Incorporated in 1847, the library was named for a debating society. Hours vary by day of week. (401) 423-7280. The Sydney L.Wright Memorial Museum, in the same building, contains artifacts found at West Ferry in 1966 and 1967. The collection includes ancient and Colonial period Narragansett Indian artifacts, plus European artifacts from the 1600s.

Cross the Jamestown Bridge and Visit the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace:

The birthplace of Gilbert Stuart is located in Saunderstown, just across West Passage from Conanicut Island and south of Route 138. During his lifetime, Stuart painted over a thousand portraits including Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe as well as many other socially prominent men and woman. The home, dating from 1750, features period furnishings. The historic site also includes a water-wheel powered snuff mill and gardens.

Visit A Nearby Museum:

There are about thirty museums located within a 30 or 40 minute drive from Jamestown highlighting fine art, history, architecture, decorative arts, photography, culinary arts, industrial arts, and popular culture. They are located in Providence, Pawtucket, Newport, Bristol, Kingston, East Greenwich, Warwick, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Narragansett and Westerly. Detailed descriptions of most of these are available at a web site maintained by the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau; additional South County museums are on a second list.

Explore the Beaches, Restaurants and Parks of South County:

Cross the Jamestown-Verrazano bridge and you are in "South County". While it is a well-known designation, "South County" is really a portion of Washington County. The area is defined by geography and history as the western shore of Narragansett Bay, from Wickford south to Point Judith, plus the Atlantic coast from Point Judith west to Watch Hill; and the adjacent areas inland to Westerly, Hopkinton and Exeter. South County is characterized by ocean vistas, forests and rolling farmland. It is home to 19 preserves, state parks, beaches and forest areas. Most of the area is within a 15 to 40 minute drive from Jamestown.

For general information, visit the South County Visitors Guide, South County Tourism Council, or SouthCounty.com websites. For information on specific areas, you can go directly to one of the following community websites - Wickford/North Kingston, South Kingston (and surrounding towns), Narragansett, Charlestown, Westerly (and nearby towns), Block Island; or these sites that focus on Narragansett, Galilee and Point Judith. If your particular interest is beaches or fishing spots, you can start planning your day-trip with these lists.

Information for Sailors (and those who would like to be):

The Newport Harbor Guide tells you where to find extensive information on Narragansett Bay - weather forecasts, maps and telephone numbers. The site contains a number of photos taken by Captain Vic, some of which follow:

Another useful site is Rhode Island Nautical Links. It's goal is to provide the most complete list of all marine-related sites in Rhode Island.

Click the following links for tide tables (time and anticipated height) and wind direction and speed for several locations around Narragansett Bay.

Jamestown provides an ideal base for cruising Narragansett Bay, Block Island Sound and the Elizabeth Islands. The Conanicut Marina, 1 Ferry Wharf, (401) 423-1556, has 205 seasonal & transient moorings and features a well-stocked ship's store with repair and storage facilities to provide full service for all size vessels.

The Jamestown Boat Yard, Racquet Road, (401) 423-0600 offers docking, mooring and facilities for repairs and upgrades. Additional services are available at the Dutch Harbor Boat Yard, 252 Narragansett Avenue (the West Ferry area) (401) 423-0630.

Share your interest in yachting by checking out activities of the Jamestown Yacht Club and Conanicut Yacht Club.

If you are interested in yachting history, you may want to visit the Museum of Yachting, located in Fort Adams State Park, Newport. The 10,000 square foot museum is home to the Courageous, two-time America's Cup winner.

Did you know that there are over 30 islands in Narragansett Bay? Click on this link to learn a little about Dutch Island, Goat Island, Whale Island and many other islands.

Lighthouses:

At least eight lighthouses can be seen from various parts of Conanicut Island. Beavertail Light, Point Judith Light, Castle Hill Light, Rose Island Light and Goat Island Light are all active. Dutch Island Light, Plum Beach Light and the Conanicut or North Point Light are decommissioned. Follow this link to learn more about all of the nearby lighthouses.

Traveling to Jamestown by Car, Plane and Train:

Click here for travel directions to Jamestown by car; or by plane (using nearby TF Green Aiport).

Would you like to make a short trip to Boston or New York but prefer not to drive; or hate the thought of trying to find a place to park when you get there? Travel the easy way; take the train from nearby Kingston. Look up the schedule and make reservations at this Kingston Station website.

Local News and Information on the Internet:

The North Kingstown Standard Times focuses on Jamestown, North Kingstown and the areas to the west.

The Newport Daily News focuses on Newport and areas to the east. Here is a link to its local weather forecast and one to its calendar page.

The Jamestown Community Home Page website posts information on many governmental and non-profit organizations, provides "DIY" news and photo posting, and provides links to several local businesses. Its calendar page lists governmental body meetings and special events in Jamestown.

WRIU, the non-commercial radio station of the University of Rhode Island, 90.3 FM, broadcasts 24 hours a day from Kingston. It's signal can be heard in RI, parts of MA, CT and Long Island. It also broadcasts over the internet, using Windows Media online broadcast format. Click on this link to listen to WRIU on your computer,