>> THERE IS A MEDAL OF HONOR HERE THAT TELL THE STORY OF A LOCAL CIVIL WAR VETERAN'S ECHO VALLEY.

AN OLD DOUBLE BAG THAT RECORDED 10 SHOW WORLD WAR I RECORD ALL THE WAY TO TOKYO BAY.

AND WE WILL TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT SOMETHING CALLED TRENCH ART, GRADE BYLOCAL SOLDIERS TO PASS THE TIME BETWEEN BATTLES.

THIS IS TREASURES INSIDE THE MUSEUM.

♪ THE SOUTHERN END OF NEW BEDFORD MASSACHUSETTS IS HOME TO A PORT, A CIVIL WAR ERA STRUCTURE TO PROTECT THE AREA FROM CONFEDERATE AGGRESSION.

THE THREAT NEVER MATERIALIZED AND AFTER 100 YEARS, THE CITY BECAME CUSTODIANS OF THE PROPERTY.

THERE IS HOWEVER, A GREAT DEAL OF MILITARY HISTORY HERE AT THE FORT RODMAN MILITARY MUSEUM.

>> WE GO FROM THAT REVOLUTIONARY WAR UNTIL PRESENT DAY.

>> EARLY YEARS, THIS POINT HAS BEEN HOME OF FORT RODMAN, MILITARY BASE AND THE BUILDING WE ARE STANDING IN USED TO BE THE PX FOR THE MILITARY.

>> OUR MUSEUM FOCUSES MORE ON THE VETERAN.

IT IS NOT THE GUNS, IT IS NOT THE PLANES, IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO SERVED.

>> LOOK AROUND, THERE ARE A LOT OF PICTURES OF LOCAL PEOPLE, LOCAL SERVICEMEN STILL ALIVE AND PASSED AWAY.

ARE NOT WE HAVE PEOPLE IN HERE THAT ARE FROM OUR AREA WHO SERVED -- >> WE HAVE PEOPLE IN HERE THAT SERVED FROM OUR AREA.

THEIR GRANDCHILDREN SERVED IN DESERT STORM.

ARE NOT AS MORE SERVICE PEOPLE -- >> AS MORE SERVICE PEOPLE PASS AWAY, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO PASS ALONG THEIR HISTORY TO THEIR RELATIVES AND FRIENDS AND THE PUBLIC AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE EMPHASIZE THE SACRIFICE THAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE GONE THROUGH IN THE PAST.

>> AND THEIR PERSONAL STORIES.

>> THE WALLS HERE ARE FULL OF FULL OR BRASS.

COLLECTIVELY -- FULL OF PHOTOGRAPHS.

EACH ONE TELLS THE STORY OF A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER WHO WENT OFF TO WAR.

>> I HAVE FRIENDS, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE ON THESE WALLS.

>> IT DOES SOMETIMES GET A LITTLE EMOTIONAL.

>> WAR IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN COUNTRIES, BUT THEY ARE FOUGHT BY INDIVIDUALS, EACH EXPERIENCE IS PERSONAL AND THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION HOPES US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THOSE STORIES.

>> MY LATE FATHER IN LAW, HE WAS ON BOARD A DESTROYER ESCORT, GUNNISON, HE WAS 10 SLING ALL THE PORTS OF ENTRY ON HIS DUFFLE BAG, HE WAS IN OKINAWA, GUAM, LEYTE, MINDANAO, SUBIC BAY, MANILA, BATAAN, AND TOKYO BAY.

THAT IS WHERE THE JAPANESE SIGNED THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER THAT OFFICIALLY ENDED WORLD WAR II.

MY FATHER IN LAW'S DESTROYER ESCORT WAS INVITED TO GO ON BOARD IN MISSOURI AND HE TOOK PICTURES OF THE ACTUAL SIGNING BY ADMIRAL NIMITZ AND GENERAL MACARTHUR, MAKE COPIES FOR THE SAILORS ON BOARD THE DESTROYER ESCORT, GUNNISON, SO I HAVE A RECORD HERE OF THE OFFICIAL ENDING OF CONFLICT IN THE PACIFIC.

>> ANOTHER THING SOLDIERS BROUGHT HOME FROM THE WAR IS SOMETHING CALLED TRENCH ART.

>> THIS IS FROM WORLD WAR I.

YOU KNOW, WE WATCH MOVIES AND WE SEE BATTLE AFTER BATTLE AFTER BATTLE.

IT IS NOT REALLY LIKE THAT IN REAL LIFE.

IT IS 90% OF THE TIME, PURE BOREDOM.

NOW ANYBODY FROM THE NEW BEDFORD AREA OR THE NEW ENGLAND AREA KNOWS ABOUT TRENCH ART.

THIS IS BASICALLY SCRUM SHAW FOR WORLD WAR I.

>> WHEN THE SOLDIERS HAD SPARE TIME IN THE TRENCHES, THEY WOULD SPEND TIME DOING ARTWORK ON EXPENDED SHELVES.

>> -- EXPENDED SHELLS.

>> THIS WAS A SHELL THAT WAS FIRED OFF.

THEY WOULD TAKE A BAYONET AND MOLDED WITH BASIC TOOLS.

IT WAS NOTHING MACHINE, IT WAS ALL DONE BY HAND, LIKE THAT SCUM SHOT WAS DONE IN THE WAILING DAYS.

-- IN THAT WHEELING A CHILLED HILL -- THE WHALING DAYS.

THEY HAVE DONE BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

>> SOME OF THE PIECES ARE AMAZING WHEN YOU CONSIDER A LOT OF THESE MEN HAD NO FORMAL ART TRAINING.

>> TODAY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EXAMPLES FROM BOTH WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II ON 8 -- ON DISPLAY HERE.

♪ NO MUSEUM THAT EXPLORES WORLD WAR II WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT AN EXHIBIT THAT REMEMBERS ONE OF THE DARKEST CHAPTERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.

>> THIS IS A MAP OF THE DIFFERENT CONCENTRATION CAMPS, YOU HAVE SOME IN POLAND, THE CAMPS WERE LIBERATED IN JANUARY 27 1945 AND WE HAVE THE CAMPS IN GERMANY AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

>> THE EXHIBITS INCLUDE ARTIFACTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS THAT TELL THE STORY OF THE -- OF THE HOLOCAUST.

IT RECOUNTS THE SYSTEMATIC MURDER OF JEWS ACROSS NAZI OCCUPIED EUROPE.

THESE PHOTOGRAPHS UNDER THE LOCAL SOLDIERS A PART OF THE LIBERATION OF THE CAMPS.

>> EC -- UC -- YOU SEE BUCHENWALD, THE LIBERATION OF -- AND JOHN RICHMAN KITTY WHO IS THE MAYOR'S GRANDFATHER WHO LIBERATED DOC OUT.

>> ALL -- LIBERATED DACGHAU.

>> THIS IS THE HIGHEST MILITARY DECORATION FOR ACTS VALERIE IN COMBAT.

>> THE MIDDLE OF HONOR WAS INSTITUTED BY THE NAVY ACTUALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CIVIL WAR.

1861.

THE ARMY LIKE THE IDEA.

THEY DID GO WITH THE METAL AT EACH SERVICE, IT IS DESIGNED SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT APPEARS ON THE METAL ITSELF.

>> THIS WAS AWARDED TO A MAN WHO ALONG WITH 200 MEN FROM THE FOURTH CAVALRY, STATIONED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND I IN 1854, THEY RECEIVED THE ASSIGNMENT THAT THEY COULD PROCEED UP THE RIVER TO EARN A RAILROAD TRESTLE THAT WAS SUPPLYING RALSTON, SOUTH CAROLINA AND APPEARED AS THEY PROCEEDED UP THE RIVER, THEY MISSED THE SPOT THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE LET A AND THEY RAN AROUND -- LET OFF AND THEY RAN AGROUND.

THE SOLDIERS ON THE STEAMBOAT BOSTON, A STEAMBOAT PROCEEDING UP THE RIVER, THE U.S.

COLORED TROOPS, THOSE TROOPS WHO WERE FAIRLY NEW TO THE ARMY, A LOVE THEM CANNOT SWIM, WHERE THEY -- A LOT OF THEM CANNOT SWIM, WHERE THEY RAN AGROUND WAS CONFEDERATE CONTROLLED BATTERIES.

DOWNING WITH GIFFORD AND DUFFY PROCEEDED TO EVACUATE THE SOLDIERS.

THEY RODE BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH, A NUMBER OF TIMES AND EVACUATED NEARLY 400 SOLDIERS FROM THE BOSTON UNDER FIRE FROM THE CONFEDERATE BATTERY.

>> AS WAS OFTEN THE CASE IN THE CIVIL WAR, THEIR ACTIONS WERE NOT RECOGNIZED UNTIL YEARS LATER.

DOWNING RECEIVED THIS METAL IN 1897.

TODAY, IT PROBABLY SITS IN A PROMINENT LOCATION ALONGSIDE HIS CITIZENSHIP AND DISCHARGE PAPERS.

THE MUSEUM ALSO DISPLAYS SOME OF THE TOOLS OF WAR THAT SOLDIERS HAVE BROUGHT HOME FROM THE TIME IN SERVICE.

>> WE HAVE WEAPONS FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, UP THROUGH THE CURRENT TIMES.

>> LEARNING THE STORY BEHIND MORE CONTEMPORARY WEAPONS IS NOT HARD, BUT SEARCHING A PIECE FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR ERA CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

>> I HAVE TO GO DOWN, LOOK AT IT, CHECK OUT ALL OF THE MARKINGS, WHO MANUFACTURED IT, THE MARKERS, FROM BOSTON, FOR ALL DIFFERENT RIFLES AND MUSKETS.

THIS PATTERN, ELECT AT THE PATTERN DESIGNED HERE, AND THAT IS WHAT TELLS YOU WHO MADE IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE A MARKET MAKER WHO MADE THIS RIFLE AND YOU HAVE A BARREL MAKER WHO MADE THIS PART OF THE RIFLE AND THEN YOU HAVE THE STOCK MADE BY SOMEONE ELSE.

THAT LEADS TO THE TERMINOLOGY, A LOCK, STOCK, AND BARREL.

HE FILLED THE PEN WITH HUNTER, HE CLOSE IT DOWN, -- YOU FILL IT WITH POWDER, YOU CLOSE IT DOWN, AND THEN YOU IGNITE THE POWDER.

IT GOES INTO A WHOLE THAT GOES TO THE POWDER WITHIN THE BARREL AND THEN IT FIRES.

THIS IS THE OLDEST GUN WE HAVE IN THE MUSEUM, AN ACTUAL, NON-REPLICA GUN.

IT WAS AN ACTUAL MILITIA MUSKETS.

THIS WAS NOT ONLY A MILITARY WEAPON, IT WAS ALSO WHAT THEY USED TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY WERE HUNTERS.

IF ANYONE HAS EVER SHOT ONE OF THESE, -- >> A LOT OF US MAY KNOW A FRIEND OR FAMILY WHO RETURNED FROM A FAR OFF OR SO WITH A KEEPSAKE SUCH AS A HELMET OR OFTEN.

HOW THIS TORPEDO ENDED UP IN ONE LOCAL MAN'S BACKYARD IS A BIT OF A MYSTERY.

>> ONE OF OUR MAIN CENTERPIECES IN A MUSEUM IS A RESTORED TORPEDO.

THIS WAS DESIGNED BY WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC ACT IN 1944.

THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS TORPEDO IS THE FACT THAT THE PROPULSION AND CONTROL ARE TOTALLY ELECTRIC.

THIS IS A PASSIVE, ACOUSTIC TORPEDO.

WITH THAT MEANS IS THAT IT WILL LISTEN FOR TARGET NOISE AND THEN IT WILL HOME IN ON THE NOISE WHEN IT DEFINES WHERE THE NOISES COMING FROM.

>> THE TORPEDO WAS RESTORED BY A LOCAL COMPANY AND DELIVERED TO THE MUSEUM IN 2014.

THE WORLD WAR II SOME READER WHO DONATED IT WAS GLAD TO SEE IT FIND A NEW HOME IN A PLACE WHERE IT CAN EDUCATE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

OCCASIONALLY, SOMETHING SHOWS UP UNEXPECTEDLY.

>> ONE DAY, VOLUNTEERS WERE COMING INTO OPEN THE MUSEUM AND OUTSIDE THE DOOR WAS THIS WHITE CAST BUST OF FATHER DUVAL.

HE WAS A PRIEST YOU'D -- IN NEW BEDFORD AND HE JOINED THE ARMY IN WORLD WAR I TO SERVE.

HE WAS CALLED THE ANGEL OF THE TRENCHES.

HE WENT TO EUROPE, WENT TO FRANCE, SERVED IN THE TRENCHES, HE WOULD GO OUT DURING THE BATTLES IN THE MIDDLE OF BATTLES TO GIVE THE LAST RITES TO SOLDIERS.

HE DID NOT CARE THE NATIONALITY, HE WOULD GO OUT THERE.

HE DID THIS DAY AFTER DAY, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AND ENDED UP THAT HE WAS INJURED SEVERELY.

WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES, HE OPENED UP THE FIRST -- THE INJURIES HE RECEIVED ENDED UP HAVING HIM PASS AWAY AT A YOUNG AGE.

HE IS REMEMBERED IN THE CITY, AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS NAMED AFTER HIM.

>> THE MUSEUM STILL HAS NO IDEA WHO THE THIS PIECE HERE.

THE BIG GRAY FULL TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE STORY.

-- THEY ARE GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE STORY.

ANOTHER STORY THEY PROBABLY TELL IS THE VIETNAM WAR.

>> WE HAVE OUR MEMORIAL WALL THAT CONTAINS ALL OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE AREA THAT WERE KILLED IN ACTION.

WE HAVE THREE CASES JUST FROM VIETNAM ALONE.

>> THERE IS ALSO A MINIATURE VERSION OF THE SCULPTURE THAT MAY LOOK FAMILIAR, IT IS CALLED THE THREE SOLDIERS, THE ACTUAL STATUE AS PART OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL AND WASHINGTON, D.C. NEW THERE IS, HOWEVER, A SECOND SCULPTURE IN THE BCM THAT YOU PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF GOOD -- HEARD OF.

>> THIS IS A MINIATURE SCULPTURE OF WHAT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. YOU SEE HERE THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL.

THE OTHER ONE, MOST PEOPLE DO NOT.

MR. ROBERT, A WEST POINT GRADUATE AND SERVED TWO TOURS IN VIETNAM, CAME INTO THE MUSEUM A FEW YEARS BACK AND HE SAW THIS AND HE SAID, DO YOU KNOW THERE WERE OTHER SCULPTURES MADE THAT DID NOT WIN?

BUT THEY ARE OUT THERE AND SO ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, ASK HIM, -- ASKED HIM, HAVE YOU HEARD OF CONTACT?

BARRY SAID NO AND ROBERT AND HERRICK, WHO MADE THE STATUES AND SUBMITTED THEM TO THE VIETNAM COMMISSION ABOUT THE STATUE WHICH WE SEE RIGHT HERE, CONTACT, SO THE GENTLEMAN, HE SAID, I WILL SEND YOU ONE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS PACKAGE CAME IN, HEAVY AS ANYTHING AND THEY STARTED OPENING IT UP AND LOW AND BEHOLD, HERE IS NUMBER 64, 100, STATUES, MINIATURE STATUES MADE OF BRONZE THAT WERE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL.

WE ARE MORE THAN PROUD.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN, PERSONALLY, AND I AM NEVER SEEN A STATUE BEFORE AND TO GET IT DIRECTLY FROM THE PERSON WHO MADE IT IS AMAZING.

IF YOU EVER LOOK AT THE STATUE, HOW INTRICATE IT IS, IS THE UNBELIEVABLE THING, DOWN TO THE SNAPS OF THE CANTEEN AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

♪ >> ALL OF THE ARTIFACTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND PERSONAL ITEMS TELL INDIVIDUAL STORIES, COLLECTIVELY, THESE EXHIBITS ON HER LOCAL VETERANS AND OPERATE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR EACH VISITOR.

>> WE ARE DOING MORE FOR THE MUSEUM EACH DAY.

>> THIS LITTLE MUSEUM IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN THE AREA.

>> IN THE SOUTHERNMOST TIP OF RHODE ISLAND IS THE SITE OF THE THIRD OLDEST LIGHTHOUSE IN NORTH AMERICA.

FOR MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF CENTURIES, THE CARETAKERS THAT LEFT EAR MAINTAIN AND ACTIVE DATA NAVIGATION.

TODAY, THIS IS THE HOME OF THE BEAVER TAIL LIGHT.

>> WE STARTED OFF IN A TWO ROOM SECTION OF THE HOUSE AND NOW, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF NINE ROOMS WHERE WE EXPANDED THE MUSEUM, ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF BOTH BUILDINGS.

>> VISITORS WILL SEE THINGS FROM 1749 RIGHT UP THROUGH PRESENT DAY.

>> THE BEAVER TAIL LIGHTHOUSE SITS AT THE STRATEGIC ENTRANCE TO NARRAGANSETT BAY.

IT DIRECTS SHIPPING TO THE SAFE WATERS OF THE EAST PASSAGE AND WARNS THEM TO STAY AWAY FROM THE PERILOUS ROCKY SHORELINE.

BY LAND, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST ACCESSIBLE LIGHTHOUSES IN NEW ENGLAND.

>> THE VIEW IS EXTRAORDINARY.

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER IT IS A GOOD DAY OR BAD DAY, -- NEW >> THEY CAN SEE YOU DOWN TO POINT SHOOTER AND ON A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN -- YOU CAN SEE BLOCK ISLAND.

>> THE MUSEUM FEATURES A FLEXION OF ARTIFACTS AND EXHIBITS THAT CHRONICLE THE HISTORY OF THE LIGHTHOUSE.

IT EXPLAINS WHY THIS WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT MILITARY SITE IN THE MARITIME HISTORY OF THE AREA.

>> THIS WAS ESTABLISHED HERE IN 1749 BECAUSE NEWPORT WAS SUCH A TRADE CENTER IN THOSE DAYS AND SO, ACTUALLY, IT WAS STARTED BY A GROUP FROM NEWPORT WHO OWNED BUSINESSES, WHO ARE TIRED OF HAVING THEIR SHIP WRECKED ON THE ROCKS.

ARE NOT WE HAVE STORIES HERE ABOUT -- >> WE HAVE STORIES HERE ABOUT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE EARLY 1800S.

>> INSIDE THE OLD OIL HOUSE IS AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT A DIFFERENT FUELS THAT WERE USED TO KEEP THE LIGHT BURNING THROUGH THE YEARS.

IN ANOTHER CORNER IS A CIRCULAR DEVICE THAT IS TOO BIG TO OVERLOOK.

>> THE LARGE BEACON THAT YOU SEE HERE IS CALLED A BCB 24 AND THAT WAS ORIGINALLY IN THE TOWER SINCE PROBABLY 1964 WHEN IT WAS FIRST PUT IN.

THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS LENS IS THE FACT THAT FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES, WE SHOW THE INSIDE GETS OF THIS AUTOMATIC LENS CHANGER, A CULMINATION OF AN INCANDESCENT BULB AND A MORE MODERN QUARTZ HALOGEN BULB IN THE FRONT.

BOTH HAVE 1000 WATT CAPABILITIES, BUT WITH A PARABOLIC REFLECTOR BEHIND IT, EACH ONE PROVIDES THE SAME AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT IS GOING ON.

THE BOLD IN THE SOCKET, WHICH IS IN THE CENTER OF THE DEVICE BURNS THE INCENSE DOWN BELOW IN AND REPLACES THE ONE THAT IS BURNT OUT.

>> LIGHTS WERE ATTENDED TO BY A KEEPER AND AN ASSISTANT KEEPER, BOTH WHO LIVED ON SITE.

TODAY, THOSE QUARTERS HOUSE THE MAIN MUSEUM EXHIBIT SPACE, INCLUDING ONE OF THE STAR ATTRACTIONS.

CIRCULAR IN SHAPE, IT IS MADE OF GLASS, WEIGHS AROUND 500 POUNDS, AND STANDS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THREE FEET TALL.

>> THIS IS OUR PRIME TREASURE IN BEAVER TAIL.

IT IS THE FOURTH ORDER FOR NELL LENS, THEY WERE DESIGNED WAY BACK AROUND 1820 BY AUGUSTINE.

HE DISCOVERED BY GRINDING ALL OF THESE LENSES AND STACKING THEM IN A CERTAIN WAY, HE COULD ACTUALLY REFRACT, BEND, THE BEAM OF LIGHT.

THAT WILL HELP THE LIGHT TRAVEL MUCH FURTHER THAN IT WOULD IF IT WAS JUST A BLINKING LIGHT BULB.

DO NOT SEE IT FAR AT ALL.

IN ONE OF THESE LENSES, IT CAN BE SEEN FOR 15 MILES.

IT CAN BE SEEN FROM BLOCK ISLAND, WHICH IS AMAZING, SO YOU CAN COME FROM BLOCK ISLAND, C POINT JUST, SEE JAMESTOWN, BEAVER TAIL, AND UP INTO THE BAY ALL THE WAY UP AND IT IS LIKE A CHAIN AND THEY GET SMALLER AS YOU GO ALONG BECAUSE THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE AS LARGE.

>> THIS LENS IS ONE PIECE IN A LONG LINE OF INNOVATIONS THAT HELP TO MAKE OCEAN NAVIGATION SAVER AND EASIER.

>> KNOWS HOW MANY LIVES THEY SAVED, HOW MAY SHIPS WERE SAVED TO GET INTO THE UPPER BAY.

>> ROCKY COASTLINE THAT SURROUNDS BEAVER TAIL HAS LONG BEEN PART OF WHAT MAKES THIS AREA SO ATTRACTIVE TO VISITORS AND SOME -- SO DANGEROUS FOR MARINERS.

THERE IS A MUSEUM WITH A SOBER REMINDER OF HOW UNFORGIVING THESE WATERS CAN BE.

>> THIS IS AN EXHIBIT FOR SHIPWRECKS IN NARRAGANSETT BAY.

SOME OF THEM ARE VERY OLD, SOME ARE QUITE NEW.

>> THROUGHOUT RECORDED HISTORY, THOUSANDS OF SHIP -- SHIPS HAVE MET WITH AN UNTIMELY FATE OFF THE SHORES.

>> THIS ONE WAS FROM 1930.

THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR ALWAYS INTERESTED ME BECAUSE HERE, THE SHIP IS UP RIGHT ON THE ROCKS AND THIS ONE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BAY AND EXPLODED IN FLAMES, WITH SOME LOSS OF LIFE AND THE WORLD PRODIGY GROUNDED AND SPILLED A GREAT DEAL OF OIL.

ARE NOT RECOVERED SHIPWRECKS THAT TOOK PLACE ON MICAH ISLAND AND ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ONES WAS THE SHIP THAT WENT AROUND TO THE EAST SIDE HERE, IT WAS CARRYING GRANITE BLOCKS AND ALL OF THESE GRANITE CARVED -- AND MOST OF THE GRANITE CARVED STONES STILL REMAIN HERE.

-- YOU CAN SEE THEM AT LOW TIDE.

>> THOUGH STONES ARE A PERMANENT PART OF THE STORYLINE SHORELINE.

-- STORYLINE.

IT CAN NOW BE EXPLORED ELECTRONICALLY.

>> WE WERE PROVIDED INFORMATION ON WHAT TYPE OF SHIP IT WAS, WHEN IT WAS BUILT, WHO WAS CAPTAIN, WHETHER IT WAS A MUTINY, WHETHER IT WAS A COLLISION, WHETHER OR NOT THE VESSEL CAUGHT FIRE, WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS A STORM, WHAT HAVE IT.

WE PUT TOGETHER A DATABASE THAT IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE THAT HAS OVER 3000 IDENTIFIED SHIPWRECKS IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

>> ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE MUSEUM BUILDINGS, AMID THE ROCKY SHORES, STANDS AND OLD FOUNDATION.

IT WAS THE SIGHT OF THE FIRST LIGHTHOUSE CAN BE RETAIL.

>> IT WAS A WOODEN LIGHTHOUSE ON TOP OF IT.

ARE NOT A BRONZE PLAQUE -- >> A BRONZE PLAQUE MARKS THE SPOT.

YEARS LATER, THE FOUNDATION WAS KEPT AND LOCKED -- NOT LONG AGO, THEY ADDED A COMPASS ROSE.

>> WE VERIFIED THAT WITH GPS, WITH MAGNETIC COMPASSES, AND DETERMINED THAT THIS LINE EC ON DOWN HERE, LEADS TO THE NORTH.

>> SOMEHOW, THE BUILDERS OF THE ORIGINAL LIGHTHOUSE HAD TO BUILD IT PERFECTLY SQUARE AND LINED UP WITH TRUE NORTH.

>> WHAT DID THOSE GUYS BACK IN 1749 KNOW TO LINED -- TO LINED THE THING AS STRAIGHT IS THAT?

>> IT WAS TRULY A REMARKABLE DISCOVERY.

THROUGH THE YEARS, THESE BUILDINGS HAVE ENDURED ALL SORTS OF WEATHER AND REPAIRS.

THE MOST RECENT ISSUE WAS WATER SEEPING INTO THE TOWER.

>> WHEN WE DECIDED TO REPAIR THE TOWER, WE DETERMINED THAT WHAT HAD TO BE DONE TO GET A PROFESSIONAL MASON IN HERE AND HE BASICALLY SAID, HE POINTED TO THE SEAMS AND HE SAID THE STRUCTURE WAS BUILT THE SAME AS THE COLISEUM IN ROME.

THE ITALIAN MASON GOES OVER TO A PICKUP TRUCK, COMES BACK WITH A GALVANIZED TAIL.

WITH IT, HE EMPTIED A QUART BOTTLE OF WATER INTO THE GALVANIZED BUCKET AND THE BLOCK OF MORTAR JUST CRUMBLED INTO POWDER.

THAT IS THE POWDER HE MIXES WITH THE FELDSPAR, THE COURTS, -- THE COURTS WANT TO AND HE SAYS, WHEN I GET THROUGH, IT WILL BE AS STRONG AT THE COLISEUM.

>> ONCE THE TOWER WAS SECURED, THE MUSEUM WAS ABLE TO OFFER AN EXPERIENCE THAT IS TRULY A TREASURE.

>> DURING OUR OPEN SEASON, WE HAVE OUR TOWER OPEN EVERY OTHER WEEKEND THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER FOR THREE HOURS, EITHER A SATURDAY, SUNDAY, OR MONDAY HOLIDAY.

AND PEOPLE CAN LINE UP AND CLIMB THE TOWER IN A GROUP OF 8-10 AND GO OUT ON THE CATWALK AND THE 350 DEGREE VIEW FROM UP THERE -- 360 DEGREE VIEW FROM UP THERE.

IT IS A TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE, UNIQUE AND THAT MANY LIGHTHOUSES HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THEM UP IN THE TOWERS.

>> IT IS ONE OF THE MANY TREASURES THAT MAKES THE BEAVER TAIL LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE STANDOUT ON THE REST.

-- FROM THE REST.

♪