There’s something quietly magical about summer on Block Island—a salty breeze whispering through Victorian porches, sun setting beyond Mohegan Bluffs, and, at the heart of it all, stories waiting to be told. Those who’ve strolled down Old Town Road know the rhythm of this place. And this season, nestled just beyond the bustle of Water Street, the Block Island Historical Society is inviting locals and wanderers alike to step into the island’s soul.
This isn’t just a museum; it’s a keeper of memory. Housed in the stately 1871 Woonsocket House, the Society has been safeguarding the island’s past since 1942. This summer, it offers more than exhibits—it offers experience. From shipwrecks to historical fiction, graveyard tales to medicine men, the 2025 summer speaker series promises to cast a spell over history buffs and curious travelers alike.
June 12, 2025 – 1661: The Way of Escape
Kicking off the season is a journey into the earliest chapters of Block Island’s colonial legacy. On June 12 at 7 p.m., David Lee Tucker, author of 1661: The Way of Escape, will present on the early days of settlement, conjuring up images of wind-beaten boats, rugged shores, and the survival spirit that defined this remote outpost.
Tucker’s talk isn’t just a recounting of facts—it’s a story spun with fiction and truth, showing how the foundations of this community were forged in hardship, hope, and heart. For those who’ve wandered past the stone walls and weathered farms, this evening promises to deepen your connection to the land beneath your feet.
June 19, 2025 – A Life in Three Centuries: Violet Sands Hazard
One week later, on June 19 at 6 p.m., Erica Luke, Executive Director of the South County History Center, will share the story of Violet Sands Hazard, a remarkable descendant of “Long” Kate of the Palatine and Newport Sands lineage. With a life spanning three centuries, Violet’s tale is more than historical—it’s poetic.
This talk promises more than genealogy; it’s an exploration of resilience, lineage, and the deep roots of African American heritage in coastal New England. Luke brings to life a voice once quieted, ensuring it echoes through the halls of the Society and the hearts of those who listen.
June 26, 2025 – Larchmont Remembered
If the ocean surrounding Block Island could talk, it would mourn the Larchmont. On June 26 at 7 p.m., Dan Harrington, former Providence Journal columnist, recounts the tragic night of February 11, 1907, when the steamer sank off the island’s coast—the worst maritime disaster in Rhode Island’s history.
The tale is grim but gripping. With his journalistic finesse, Harrington will lead attendees through chilling accounts, salvaged memories, and the enduring legacy of a community forever altered by a single winter night. Expect goosebumps as much as insights.
July 3, 2025 – Dr. Perry: Island Doctor for 60 Years, 1889–1948
While the sea is often the star of Block Island’s past, the quiet heroes deserve their due. Enter Dr. Charles Perry. On July 3 at 7 p.m., Dr. Benjamin Hruska of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will honor the physician who cared for islanders for six decades—through storms, epidemics, and births on candlelit nights.
Dr. Perry was more than a doctor; he was a confidant, protector, and lifeline in the days before helicopters and modern medicine. This presentation will be especially poignant for year-rounders and summer folk alike who’ve come to understand how community health is community heart.
July 10, 2025 – Shipwrecked: Coastal Disasters and the Making of the American Beach
Just a week later, on July 10 at 7 p.m., Jamin Wells, Associate Professor at the University of West Florida, dives into a topic that links disaster and development. His lecture, based on his acclaimed book Shipwrecked: Coastal Disasters and the Making of the American Beach, explores how the wrecks and wreckage of centuries past gave rise to a tourism culture that now defines coastal identity.
Wells makes the case that the American beach was born not of leisure, but of loss—and that fascination with maritime tragedy shaped our coastlines in ways we’re only beginning to understand. For islanders and beachgoers, it’s a fresh lens on familiar sands.
A Museum with a Mission
The events may be seasonal, but the heartbeat of the Block Island Historical Society pulses year-round. Its mission—to collect, preserve, and interpret the rich history of this Atlantic outpost—extends far beyond lectures. The museum’s rooms are filled with maritime artifacts, Native American tools, hand-stitched quilts, vintage postcards, and ship models, each telling a different part of the same story: that of an island and its people, caught between change and tradition.
Visitors can wander the creaky floors, run their fingers along weathered rails, or listen to oral histories that bring the past forward in familiar voices. Exhibits on farming, fishing, summer retreats, and colonial daily life build a full portrait of island living, from the sacred to the ordinary.
And then there’s the lawn—the green gathering space where events bloom in the warm months. From Arts & Crafts Guild fairs to informal storytelling circles, the lawn at 18 Old Town Road remains a place where time slows down just enough to allow history to breathe.
Come for the Views, Stay for the Stories
This summer, the Block Island Historical Society invites you not just to see Block Island, but to know it. With events that uncover shipwrecks and unveil quiet heroism, stories told by experts and kindled by community memory, there’s no better time to anchor yourself in the island’s narrative.
Every event is free and open to the public, a testament to the Society’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Just be sure to register online at blockislandhistorical.org, and bring your curiosity along with your beach hat.
Because on Block Island, the past isn’t just behind you—it’s all around, whispering through the dunes and beckoning from the shore.
Sidebar: Event Schedule at a Glance
- June 12, 7 p.m. – 1661: The Way of Escape with David Lee Tucker
- June 19, 6 p.m. – Violet Sands Hazard: A Life in Three Centuries with Erica Luke
- June 26, 7 p.m. – Larchmont Remembered with Dan Harrington
- July 3, 7 p.m. – Dr. Perry: Island Doctor for 60 Years with Dr. Benjamin Hruska
- July 10, 7 p.m. – Shipwrecked with Jamin Wells
About the Block Island Historical Society
Founded in 1942 and based in the historic Woonsocket House, the Society has become a pillar of cultural preservation. Through educational programs, seasonal exhibitions, and community events, it honors the stories that make Block Island more than a destination—it makes it a living history.
To learn more or plan your visit, go to blockislandhistorical.org.
