Providence To Get Historic ‘Independence Trail’

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Tuesday, May 03, 2011

GoLocalProv Features Team

It's about time, says local restaurateur and history buff, Bob Burke.

The colony that first declared its independence (235 years ago, this Wednesday), has been sitting quietly alongside a latter-day upstart with its own tourist-trodden Freedom Trail. That's right, the Massachusetts Bay Colony has its red, white, and blue trail that links journeyers from one historic site to another. And we've had nothing.

Take that, Boston

But no more. Soon, thanks to Burke's leadership and buy-in from the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island, a new, 3-mile "Independence Trail" will draw a historic loop through 75 historic Providence sites.

And this Wednesday, May 4, on that very day of independence, Mayor Angel Taveras and Governor Lincoln Chafee will sign a memorandum of agreement about the trail in a bit of pomp and circumstance, on the steps of the Old RI State House, 150 North Main St. The public is invited to witness, celebrate, and hear more about the city's newest venture.

History is scheduled to be made starting at 2pm. Don't miss it.