Block Island Historical Society

Collecting, preserving, interpreting and sharing Block Island’s past to enrich the present and inspire the future

Block Island Beginnings Downtown Virtual Tour

Block Island Resources

Downtown Tour of Block Island

Enjoy this 360-degree virtual tour of Water Street, Dodge Street and Bridgegate Square, designated by the National Park Service as a Historic District. Narrated by Eliot Nerenberg.

Look Around

Explore over one hundred recordings of stories told by island residents. Collected beginning in 2000, these stories offer an intimate, personal way of preserving and sharing the heritage of this unique place.

Listen Now

On the Corner …

The Society was founded in 1942. To help celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2017, The Block Island Times published a series of sketches and photographs of items in our collection.

See the Images

Photo Archive

Browse a selection of historic postcards and photographs from the Society’s collection. If you’d like to see more, pay us a visit.

See the Images

Block Island Timeline

Explore key events in the history of Block Island, starting with the Niantic settlement about 1500 years ago. Click any of the events to learn more.

Travel through time

Block Island Beginnings

Discover the early history of Block Island in this virtual exhibit, featuring interviews with archaeologist Kevin McBride and Gerry Abbott (past president and current board member)

bright and cheery inside and out! New, fresh style

This weeks hours in the shop! We’d love to see y

Spending this gorgeous spring day admiring the abu

Vintage postcard tote bags are in at the shop! Als

The wait is over! The new Museum Shop is open! Sto

New job opportunity: Museum Shop Manager 2021. Job

Lunar New Year of the Ox. Oxen were important to t

Last day to support our Valentine campaign by 5:00

Contribute to our Annual Fund for #Valentines Day

Brighten someone's day & support historic preserva

Window candles donated: 35 mini lights: 33. Lighti

Window candle/light campaign to end Friday 1/22/21

Flicker of candles light the #museum at Bridgegate

22 windows lit up our #museum over the weekend. 2

We received 9 more candles & 4 mini lights for the

8 candles lit tonight and 6 mini lights in the cup

Light up our windows! 4 donated to date and 3 mini

"Light a Window" Campaign now until 1/5 donate $10

Join Us! Please consider a donation and make #hist

A $100 donation enters you into a drawing for 3 gr

Visit

Our Museum offers a rich collection of artifacts and memorabilia that bring to life the history of the island over the past 3,500 years. Exhibits change regularly.

Learn More

Take guided walking tours of the Old Harbor, a Manissean Village site, and more — including personalized genealogical tours to help you explore your own Block Island heritage.

Explore Tours

The Museum Shop is a great place to find artwork by island artists, as well as historical photos, maps, posters, T-shirts, postcards, and all things Block Island.

Browse the Shop

Interested in hosting a private event at the Society? Talk to us!

Ask about Private Events