Warwick Rhode Island is the second largest city in the state, and was founded by Samuel Gorton in 1642, making it one of the oldest cities in the country. Due to its location in New England, Warwick has been involved in several major events in American history. Most saliently, Warwick was the site of the “shot heard ‘round the world,” or the first shot of the American Revolutionary War. The shot itself was fired in 1772 against the British schooner Gaspee, and there is a plaque marking the spot in the town. This came to be known as the “Gaspee Affair,’ and was the first violent act against the Crown during the American Revolution. The Gaspee came in to enforce the Stamp Act, since Warwick was in an area that was infamous for smuggling. When the colonists rebelled and tried to take the ship, the captain resisted and was shot in the crotch. Obviously, this is not as romantic as the poem later written about the shot heard ‘round the world would have you believe, but the truth is often more interesting!

Warwick was also home to one of the most prominent revolutionary Americans: Nathaniel Green, who was George Washington’s second in command. Warwick also fostered Civil War hero George S. Green, who was a general n the battle of Gettysburg.

Warwick is a good side stop for people who are coming to Rhode Island to check out Providence. The state of Rhode Island is small enough that it’s easy to travel to different cities by way of a day trip – you can easily take in all of the sights that Warwick has to offer within a day and get back to Providence. Of course, should you want to stay in the town for longer, there are plenty of restaurants and hotels on hand. You’re likely to find this a pleasant, quieter city than Providence – for those on a budget, you’re likely to find cheaper accommodations here as compared to the big city. Whether you stay in this charming town or just visit for a day, Warwick is an important historical component to America’s history, so it’s certainly worth a look the next time you find yourself in Rhode Island.