Fort Ninigret, Rhode Island — History & Visitor Guide

Fort Ninigret (Charlestown, Rhode Island)

Charlestown · Rhode Island · Colonial period / Indian Wars

Quick BriefFort Ninigret is a historic fort and trading post site at Fort Neck Road in Charlestown, Rhode Island, built and occupied by European settlers in the seventeenth century. The fort was named for Ninigret, the sachem of the Niantics by the 1630s. At its 1883 dedication, Commissioner George Carmichael, Jr. referred to it as "the oldest military post on the Atlantic coast."

Coastal defenseOpen to visitors

History & Significance

Around 1620, many Niantic people—cousins and allies of the larger Narragansett tribe—settled at this place, growing corn, making wampum, and trading with Dutch and English colonists for beads, pipes, and copper kettles. Most historians believe the fort was built by the Dutch West India Company or Portuguese explorers prior to 1637, in addition to an earlier trading post on nearby Dutch Island.

In 1921–22, a European sword and cannon were found at an Indian cemetery near the site, along with many other goods demonstrating European construction; these artifacts are now in the Rhode Island Historical Society. Following King Philip's War (1675–76), which cemented colonial rule over Rhode Island's Indian lands, many Narragansetts joined Ninigret's people for safety, and the Niantic name fell out of use.

Tribal members lived in wigwams at Fort Ninigret into the 18th century, while sachems occupied nearby European-style houses. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Today Fort Ninigret is maintained by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Charlestown Historical Society.

Key Facts

StateRhode Island

LocationCharlestown

Established1637

War / eraColonial period / Indian Wars

Current statusState or National Park

Coordinates41.38111111, -71.64833333

NRHP reference70000004

Map

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🧳 Visiting

What you’ll see when you visit:

17th-century Dutch-built trading post and fort on Fort Neck
Original settlement of the Niantic people before European arrival
Museum exhibits on Native American and colonial trade relations
Historic monument preserving Narragansett and Niantic Indian history
Scenic park setting on Rhode Island coastline

Best time to visitSpring (April-May) and fall (September-October) offer pleasant weather; summers are warm and humid, winters cold and potentially icy along the Rhode Island coast.

Getting thereWesterly State Airport (WST), approximately 13 km away, is the nearest airfield; the fort is located in Charlestown, Rhode Island.

From the nearest major airportRhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)🚗 32 mi by road⏱️ ≈ 53 min drive

Fort Ninigret (Charlestown, Rhode Island)

History & Significance

Key Facts

Map

🧳 Visiting

Sources

Other Forts in Rhode Island

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