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Writer's pictureMeghan Hirst

Westerly, RI - Part 1 History

Updated: Mar 30, 2023

A sleepy town in winter and a bustling tourist attraction in summer.

Dock and Boats. Photos by Nature Photographer Pam Hirst at PKH Photography. Writing by Freelance Content Writer and Travel Blogger Meghan Hirst at Meghan Hirst, Writer.


Westerly, Rhode Island was formed by English colonists in 1648. As you can probably guess, the name comes from the fact that it is the town that is positioned furthest west in the state. The Pawcatuck River flows close by, which we mentioned in a previous post. Fun fact about the river: there is a one-of-a-kind species of salmon that inhabit it. This actually inspired the design of the town seal: three of these fish that vary a bit in size and have a red hue. Interesting geographical formations called salt ponds dip near the coast. These and beautiful white beaches are two things that attract tourists annually. The salmon is not the only one-of-a-kind thing that is here; there is a pink granite. For this reason, it is an ideal spot for granite mining. This type of granite is mainly used to sculpt statues. The statutes have been displayed in many seaside towns on the east coast of the U.S.


Tapped Apple Cidery & Winery is next!


What attracts you to a certain area when you are planning a vacation? Is it the things to do, the restaurants, or something else?



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