Exodus to the Shore: Resorts for Ordinary People

The lecture explores how Rhode Island’s shoreline evolved into a destination for ordinary vacationers during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. As transportation improved and leisure time increased, thousands of people flocked to coastal communities for fresh air, recreation, and summer living, leading to the growth of beaches, resorts, cottages, and seasonal neighborhoods throughout the state. Using communities such as Matunuck and other Rhode Island shore resorts as examples, the presentation examines how these popular summer destinations developed and how many eventually evolved into the year-round coastal communities we know today.

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