Providence Harbor History

Providence Harbor History. Brandon's Beach at Burnside Park. , 1600s , Imagine you are here in 1636, when Providence looked very different., Providence Harbor was full of ships, an active hub for fishing and trade. It played an important role as the city grew., 1700s , In the 1700s, the British occupied Newport, making that city a dangerous place to trade. Instead, merchants used Providence Harbor, which was protected by colonial forts on both sides., 1800s , Later, Providence Harbor became a major port, trading goods from all over the world. Ships docked along South Water Street and traveled up the river as far as Westminster Street., 1900s , As the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, Rhode Island's industry grew, as did the ships that used the Providence River. Ships became too big to travel through the center of the city, and began delivering their goods to India Point., Today , Brandon's Beach at Burnside Park celebrates the rich history of the Providence Harbor., Come inside and pretend you're a ship's captain, or even a pirate! Maybe you're a Providence merchant, or a sailor heading out to sea., Where will your adventure take you?