Galilee, Rhode Island facts for kids
Galilee is a busy fishing village located on Point Judith in Narragansett, Rhode Island, United States. It's famous for having the biggest fishing fleet in Rhode Island. It's also where you can catch the Block Island Ferry. Galilee sits right across the harbor from another village called Jerusalem, Rhode Island. The village got its name from the Biblical Galilee, which was the home region of Jesus Christ. Four of Jesus' friends, Andrew, Peter, James, and John, were fishermen from that original Galilee.
Today, the port of Galilee helps transport over 16 million pounds of seafood and shellfish every year. Galilee is part of the town of Narragansett. Its population can double in the summer months. This is because many tourists come to visit the state beaches, relax, take the ferry to Block Island, or go fishing and whale watching.
Contents
History of Galilee Village
How Galilee Got Its Name
The village of Galilee got its name in 1902. A fisherman named Thomas Mann, who had moved there from Nova Scotia, thought the new fishing village should be called Galilee. This was like the fishing village from biblical times. The story goes that one day, an old fisherman was fixing his nets on the docks. A stranger asked him, "Where am I?" The fisherman replied, "Galilee." The stranger then pointed across the channel and asked, "And what is that?" The old fisherman thought for a moment and said, "That must be Jerusalem." And that's how the names Galilee and Jerusalem came to be used for this beautiful part of Rhode Island.
Developing a Safe Harbor
In the 1800s, this area grew into a fishing village. In the early 1900s, the State helped by digging out the channel and building stone jetties. Later, the Army Corps of Engineers built long breakwaters. These breakwaters are like protective walls in the water. They help create a safe harbor for ships traveling between New York and Boston, especially if they run into bad weather.
Recent Events in Galilee
Unusual Beach Incident in 2015
On Saturday, July 11, 2015, an unusual event happened at Galilee's Salty Brine State Beach. Two people were injured. It was thought that an old copper cable buried under the sand reacted with a lot of hydrogen gas in that area. This reaction caused a small blast. One person was thrown over 10 feet by the force, and they had two broken ribs.
Wind Turbine Toppled in 2017
On Tuesday, March 14, 2017, a very strong winter storm hit Galilee. A 100-foot tall wind turbine in the village was knocked over by the powerful winds. The strong winds snapped the metal structure that held the turbine up. Along with the snow and strong winds, many homes in Galilee lost power because of this storm. The turbine fell around 11:00 AM, and power loss followed about an hour later.
Fun Things to Do in Galilee
Today, Galilee is still home to Rhode Island's largest fishing fleet. You can see commercial fishermen and lobstermen working here. There are also deep-sea fishing trips you can take. Because so many fishermen work here, it's often easy to buy fresh lobster and fish right off the boats. You can also find fresh seafood in the local shops and restaurants. There are more than 10 seafood restaurants in Galilee village.
Beaches and Water Activities
Galilee has access to Salty Brine State Beach. This beach, along with Roger Wheeler State Beach and Scarborough State Beach, stretches along the coast. These public beaches are mixed with private beaches, beach clubs, and fishing docks. Popular activities at the beaches in Galilee include kayaking, fishing, and sight-seeing. You might even spot whales, gray seals, harp seals, and hooded seals in the waters around the area.
Other Popular Spots
Other popular places to visit in the port of Galilee include the 100-foot tall wind turbine (even after the storm, it's a landmark), the Point Judith lighthouse, and Fisherman's Memorial State Park.
Block Island Ferry
The Block Island Ferry also operates from Galilee. It travels about 13 miles between Block Island and Galilee. The trip takes less than an hour.
