Things to do / Travel Guide
During the 200 years following the Pilgrims' arrival in the New World, coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island was still mainly populated by Native Americans, such as the Mashantucket Pequot Nation and the Mohegan Tribe, and descendents of the original English settlers. These tribes now have their headquarters in southeast Connecticut. Things began to change around the time of the American Revolution, and in the 19th century, when thousands of Irishmen fled their native home due to the ravaging Irish potato famines.
Scots, Finns, Lithuanians, Turks, and Jews of all nationalities were drawn to the region during the heyday of the Industrial Revolution, while the early 20th century saw the arrival of immigrants from Italy, Poland, Portugal, Germany, and Slovakia. More recently, people from Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, and the Caribbean have contributed to the diverse ethnic mix of the region. But even today, the five largest single-ancestry groups are still European in origin: Irish, Italian, English, French, and Portuguese.
On the southern coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut are a number of still-authentic fishing villages. The flagship in terms of upkeep and restoration is Mystic Seaport, which has its own living museum. However there are others as well, such as Stonington, and Watch Hill Cove in Rhode Island. In Providence, there are many recognizable signs of Rhode Island's Italian presence, and in Bristol County there are signs of the state's Portuguese presence. Just look at the restaurants in these areas: There are large numbers of Italian and (albeit to a slightly lesser extent) Portuguese venues in these areas, with more maritime menus. Churches too are recognizably not of the standard New England variety, being Catholic for the most part.
Demographics around Boston, Massachusetts
Today, Boston is the region's largest city and has a population of approximately 600,000 people. Cape Cod has a year-round population of approximately 200,000 residents, but that number swells to around 500,000 during the summer months. In comparison, the entire state of Rhode Island has an estimated population of slightly over 1 million.
English is the spoken language, although remember to drop those unnecessary “R's” when you're in Boston if you want to sound like a native. The local way to pronounce Harvard Square is “Ha-vid Sqay-ah,” and if you get thirsty, ask for a “Baw-stin Bee-ah” (Boston Beer). Although the Rhode Island and Boston dialects might sound the same to your ears, never, never say so to a local.
Many of the people in Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island are descendants of the first generations of Europeans to come over to the New World. They're proud of their heritage, proud of the role their ancestors played in the founding of the Colonies and the Revolution. You could say that because they've grown up in a region so flooded with history, it gives them more of a feeling that they are a part of it, just passing the torch. Perhaps you'll feel this too when you visit the region.
In addition to the Anglo-Saxon heritage, Bostonians are, as you may know, incredibly prideful of their city's Irish heritage. The Irish started coming in the 1820s, and have made a colorful mark on the city. The city, by the way, is where JFK got his start, representing it in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Today, Bostonians tend to be reserved - some would say downright chilly - but they can be friendly and helpful if you initiate the conversation. However, it is not advised to ask them to say, “Park your car in Harvard Yard,” just to hear their Boston accent.
The locals from Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, tend to fall into two groups: those who love the visitors and those who don't. What you have to remember is that these people live here, and they are probably not endeared to the cause of all the traffic jams. They're used to tourists, of course, but they also like their own space. Both groups will appreciate it if you keep the islands clean and obey traffic and no trespassing signs, as they like to enjoy the beaches, restaurants, and entertainment as much as you do.
The Rhode Islanders share a culture that is distinct from that of their surroundings. This is owing to their history, split off as it is from Massachusetts, and to the large percentage of Italians and Portuguese. These can be seen today in the singular food you can get there, very seafood-based. Much of their culture is sea-based, in fact.
Providence, Rhode Island happens to have one of the largest gay communities in the Northeast. In fact, Providence elected the first openly-gay mayor of a U.S. state capital.
Finally, the Native Americans in southeast Connecticut can tell you quite a lot about their interesting culture. In addition to being attached to their ancient heritage, most of the members of the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes participate in the casinos that are the big draw to the area. If your interested in the Mashantucket Pequot tribe, there's a museum with a large amount of resources in the immediate vicinity of the casino. For Mohegan tribal culture, you can go to the 1827 Mohegan Church and Tantaquidgeon Museum, located in Uncasville.
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