Here Are The Oldest Photos Ever Taken In Rhode Island And They're Incredible

Rhode Islanders have been taking photos of the same things for as long as cameras have existed. Our historical records are replete with photos of ornate architecture, lush flower gardens, local celebrities, and the shocking aftermath of natural disasters, proving that we have always enjoyed capturing the same memories generation after generation, even when we had to pay for them to be developed. Take a look at the incredible old photos below.

Flickr/Boston Public Library

This member-supported library founded in 1836 was beautiful enough to photograph even before the invention of film.

Smithsonian/National Portrait Gallery

This photo of the First Rhode Island Militia is one of the very first photographs ever taken in the state.

Advertisement

Library of Congress/No known restrictions/Call number LOT 4167, no. 16

Shocking enough to snap a photo of, this bullet shell was found lodged into a tree at the location of the 7th infantry of Rhode Island.

Advertisement

Related Stories

You'll Never Look At Donuts The Same Way After Trying Daily RI Homemade Donuts In Rhode Island

This Enchanting Garden Restaurant In Rhode Island Will Transport You To Another World

The Incredible Flower Road Trip Through Rhode Island Is The Ultimate Spring Adventure

Library of Congress/No Known Restrictions/Call Number LOT 14043-2, no. 90

General Ambrose Burnside was known for his distinctive hairstyle which would become known as "sideburns." A monument of this war hero stands in Burnside Park in Providence.

Library of Congress/Call Number Unprocessed in PR 13 CN 2010:100, P79.552

Proof that we have been snapping photos of the Newport Mansions since the 1800s.

Library of Congress/No Known Restrictions

What good would a photograph of flowers be without color? This one snapped in 1914 was colored by hand.

Library of Congress/No known restrictions/Call Number LC-USF34-040310

This photograph from the 1930s is the equivalent of someone snapping a cellphone photo of weather damage today.

Rhode Island is fraught with fascinating history. Keep reading to learn seven things that happened in Rhode Island that you will NOT find in history books.