♪ >> THERE IS AN OLD RAILROAD BOSTON -- BOXCAR HERE THAT WAS RESCUED, TO TELL A STORY OF GRATITUDE.

YOU CAN WALK AMONG MACHINES FROM AN OLD MILL AND EXPERIENCE WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE HERE 100 YEARS AGO.

♪ AND THERE IS A PRICELESS MOSAIC MADE IN PARIS THAT IS ON DISPLAY AGAIN AFTER BEING SAVED FROM A LOCAL CHURCH.

THIS IS "TREASURES INSIDE THE MUSEUM. "

-- "TREASURES INSIDE THE MUSEUM."

♪ ANCHOR: WOUND SOCKET, RHODE ISLAND HAS A PROUD FRENCH POPULATION, A CONNECTION FORGED OVER 100 YEARS AGO THAT HAS REMAINED STRONG THROUGH SEVEN GENERATION.

THIS ONCE FLOURISHING CITY WAS BUILT BY IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME IN SEARCH OF WORK AND PROSPERITY.

THE HISTORY OF THE CITY IS TOLD HERE, AT THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE.

♪ >> THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE IS THE FINAL PIECE THAT HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE TAPESTRY THAT IS THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1822 AND HAVE GROWN OVER THESE NEARLY 200 YEARS.

IN 1997, WE ADDED THIS PHENOMENAL COMMUNITY MUSEUM.

WE SEE THIS AS A VITAL PART OF THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND A WAY WE CAN CONNECT TO THE PUBLIC IN A WAY WE CAN'T ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> THE IDEA TO HAVE A MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE HERE IN WOUND SOCKET -- WOONSOCKET WAS BORN OUT OF THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE CITY OF WOO NSOCKET.

BACK THEN, THE MAYOR THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE A PERMANENT PLACE THAT TOLD THE STORY OF WORKERS AND PEOPLE WHO CAME TO SETTLE WOONSOCKET AND MADE IT WHAT IT IS TODAY.

ANCHOR: IN THE MIDDLE TO LATE 19TH CENTURY, MILLS IN WOONSOCKE WERE THRIVING,T -- THRIVING, AND MORE WORKERS WERE NEEDED.

>> WE SENT AGENTS IN TARGETED AREAS WHERE WE KNEW PEOPLE NEEDED WORK.

THERE WAS A LOT OF POVERTY AND LARGE FAMILIES.

♪ ANCHOR: AN EXHIBIT AT THE MUSEUM DEPICTS WHAT LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE IN THAT PART OF CANADA AT THAT TIME, LONG DAYS OF HARD WORK AND STRUGGLING TO LIVE OFF THE LAND.

EXTENDED FAMILIES LIVED IN SMALL HOMES, OFTEN WITH ONLY THE VERY BASIC NECESSITIES.

IT IS EASY TO SEE WHY SO MANY WERE LURED AWAY BY THE PROMISE OF A BETTER LIFE.

>> PEOPLE STARTED TO COME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, OFTEN WITH THE INTENTION TO WORK FOR A WHILE IN WOONSOCKET, AND TO GO BACK ONCE THEY HAD MADE ENOUGH MONEY.

BUT OF COURSE, NOW WE KNOW MOST PEOPLE DECIDED TO SETTLE IN WOONSOCKET AND STAY IN THIS AREA.

ANCHOR: IMMIGRANTS WHO VENTURED TO WOONSOCKET ALSO BROUGHT THE INTENTION OF KEEPING THEIR CULTURE, INCLUDING THEIR LANGUAGE AND FAITH.

>> THEY BEGAN TO SETTLE IN THIS AREA.

THEY BUILT THEIR OWN CHURCHES, THEIR OWN SCHOOLS WHERE THEIR CHILDREN COULD BE EDUCATED BY PRIESTS AND NUNS THAT CAME FROM CANADA AS WELL.

ANCHOR: SCHOOLS WERE BUILT, RUN BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND STUDENTS WERE TAUGHT IN BOTH ENGLISH AND FRENCH.

>> BY 1920, THE CITY OF WOONSOCKET WAS CONSIDERED THE MOST FRENCH CITY IN THE U.S., WITH ABOUT 70% OF ITS POPULATION THAT WAS FROM THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC.

ANCHOR: CHURCHES WERE NOT ONLY PLACES OF WORSHIP.

THEY ALSO BECAME IMPORTANT CULTUAL CENTERS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> THIS IS A MOSAIC ORIGINALLY FOUND IN OUR LADY OF VICTORIES CHURCH IN THE CITY OF WOONSOCKET , A FRENCH PARISH.

♪ [CHURCH SINGERS] ANCHOR: THE MOSAIC DEPICTS A FALLEN SOLDIER DRAPED IN AMERICAN FLAG WHILE BEING HELD BY SAINT JOAN OF ARC, PATRON SAINT OF SOLDIERS.

IT WAS PAINTED IN PARIS AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND SENT TO THE UNITED STATES AS A MEMORIAL TO FALLEN SOLDIERS, SPECIFICALLY SOLDIERS OF FRENCH-CANADIAN DISSENT.

IN THE 1930'S, THE MOSAIC WAS INSTALLED IN THE FRONT OF THE NEW OUR LADY OF VICTORIES CHURCH.

IT REMAINED AT THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH IN DECADES, BUT WHEN THE CHURCH CLOSED A FEW YEARS AGO, IT SEEMED AS IF THE MOSAIC MIGHT BE FORGOTTEN.

THAT IS WHEN A GROUP OF OFF-DUTY FIREFIGHTERS VOLUNTEERED TO RESCUE THE PIECE FROM THE OLD CHURCH.

♪ >> THEY WANTED TO FIND A PERMANENT HOME FOR IT, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT IS EXTRAORDINARY ART, BUT ALSO WHAT IT REPRESENTS TO THE COMMUNITY, REALLY UNIQUE MOMENT LOOKING AT WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR A FRENCH-CANADIAN WHO WAS HOLDING ONTO THEIR FRENCH-CANADIAN ROOTS AS WELL AS THEIR LANGUAGE, THE INSCRIPTIONS ARE WRITTEN IN FRENCH, BUT ALSO HAVING THIS MOMENT OF AMERICANIZATION, HAVING FOUGHT A WAR ON BEHALF OF THEIR NEW COUNTRY, AND HAVING LOST IN MANY INSTANCES THEIR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN ON BEHALF OF A NEW NATION.

SEEING THAT JUXTAPOSITION OF THEIR OLD CULTURE, THE LANGUAGE THEY WERE TRYING TO HOLD ONTO, YET THIS NEW AMERICAN CULTURE THEY WERE BECOMING MUCH MORE OF A PART OF IN THE MOST DRAMATIC WAY POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF SACRIFICING ONE'S LIFE 41'S COUNTRY.

ANCHOR: -- SACRIFICING ONE'S LIFE FOR ONE'S COUNTRY.

ANCHOR: TODAY IT IS ONE OF THE TREASURES AT THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE.

♪ ANOTHER EXHIBIT IS A WINDOW TO WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE FOR WORKERS IN THE MILLS.

IT WAS LOUD.

THE DUST MADE IT HARD TO BREATHE.

AND THERE WAS PRESSURE TO KEEP THE MACHINES RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

[MACHINERY RUNNING] WORKERS WERE PAID BY THE PIECE, SO WHEN THE MACHINES WEREN'T WANTING -- WEREN'T RUNNING, THEY WEREN'T WORKING, STILL, IT WAS AN IMPROVEMENT FROM WHAT THEY LEFT BEHIND.

>> THEY CERTAINLY MADE MORE MONEY AND THEY HAD A DAY OFF, BUT YOU ALSO HAD THE DOWNSIDE OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES, ALL KINDS OF THINGS MILL LIFE BROUGHT.

ANCHOR: MILL LIFE WAS OFTEN A FAMILY AFFAIR.

WOMEN AND EVEN CHILDREN FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THE WORKPLACE.

♪ EXTENDED FAMILIES SETTLED HERE OFTEN FOUND THEMSELVES LIVING TOGETHER.

THE TRIPLE-DECKER HOMES THAT LINED THE STREETS OF WOONSOCKET, LIKE SO MANY NEW ENGLAND CITIES, WERE THE PERFECT ANSWER.

GRANDPARENTS UPSTAIRS WOULD BE CLOSE BY TO HELP RAISE THE CHILDREN WHILE PARENTS WERE WORKING.

AT THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE, THE STORIES OF THESE FAMILIES ARE BEING SAVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> THIS IS THE MALE MEMORY BANK, AND IT IS A PLACE WHERE WE COLLECT THE STORIES OF LOCAL MILL WORKERS.

WE INVITE PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR STORIES, WHETHER THEY WORKED IN THE MILLS THEMSELVES OR HAVE FAMILIES OR AUNTS AND UNCLES, WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THEM.

IT IS BOTH HIGH TOUCH ANTI-TECH, -- HIGH TOUCH AND HIGH-TECH, AND IT BRINGS TOGETHER THE STORIES OF THE EVERYDAY PEOPLE WHO CREATED AND BUILT THE RHODE ISLAND WE SEE AROUND US TODAY.

ANCHOR: ANYONE WHOSE FAMILIES WORKED AT MILLS ANYWHERE IN THE REGION CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE DATABASE BY SHARING THEIR INFORMATION AS WELL AS PHOTOGRAPHS.

>> THE WEIGHT WORKS, WHEN PEOPLE GET TO THE MUSEUM, THEY GET -- THE WAY IT WORKS, WHEN PEOPLE GET TO THE MUSEUM, THEY CAN SELECT BY EITHER NAME OR MAIL.

IF YOU KNOW THE NAME OF 70 REGISTERED IN THE MEMORY BANK, YOU CAN SELECT THE NAME.

WE WILL LOOK AT EUGENE.

OVER HERE WE HAVE A PHOTO OF MR. PALUC THAT -- MR. PELAQUIN, THE PLACE WHERE HE WORKED, HE ONLY WORKED THERE FOR A YEAR.

AND I REMEMBER THE STORY, THE ONLY WORKED THERE FOR A YEAR AND WENT, NOW I NEED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND GET AN EDUCATION BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT I WANT TO DO FOR A LIVING.

ANCHOR: THE DATABASE IS CONSTANTLY GROWING AND NOW EXTENDS BEYOND INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE PUBLIC.

>> WE ALSO CONDUCTED A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH MALE WORKERS -- WITH MILL WORKERS AND ALSO MILL OWNERS.

WE HAVE GREAT STORIES FROM CERTAIN QUESTIONS WE ASKED EVERYONE WHO WAS INTERVIEWED, WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE MAIL?

-- IN THE MILL?

WHAT WAS ELECTED HAVE A DAY OFF?

WHAT DID YOU DO FOR WORK?

WHAT DID YOU HAVE FOR LUNCH?

WE STILL HAVE A MALE IN WOONSOCKET, THE NORTH WEST MILL.

THIS IS THE MILL OWNER, AND HE TELLS US ABOUT WHAT IT IS LIKE TO WORK IN A MILL AND OPERATE THE MILL TODAY.

ANCHOR: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MILL OWNERS AND THEIR WORKERS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

UNIONS BEGAN MOVING INTO THE WORKPLACE AND CHANGING LAWS MEANT CHILDREN WERE NO LONGER PART OF THE WORKPLACE.

AT THE SAME TIME, BASEBALL STARTED TO FACTOR INTO THE EQUATION.

>> BASEBALL TEAMS, WHEN MILLS WERE FUNCTIONING AT THEIR HEIGHT, WERE CREATED BY MILL OWNERS TO CREATE HARMONY MYUNG WORKERS.

USE SAW LABOR UNIONS COMING INTO ORGANIZING, AND THEY FELT ANY TIME WORKERS WERE AT COMPANY BASEBALL GAMES OR PICNICS WERE TIMES THEY WEREN'T PARTICIPATING IN LABOR PARADES ARE GOING TO SEE RADICAL SPEAKERS.

IT WAS THEIR WAY OF TRYING TO PRESERVE THEIR WORKFORCE IN THEMES THEY WERE ACCUSTOMED TO.

BASEBALL TEAMS WERE A REALLY FUN WAY TO PRESERVE THAT SPIRIT, ONE THAT REALLY TOOK HOLD AMONGST MILL WORKERS AT THAT TIME.

IT WAS THEIR WAY TO BE SEEN BY GIRLS.

IT WAS THEIR WAY TO STAND OUT AMONGST THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WORKING IN MALES THEIR WAY TO MAKE -- WORKING IN MILLS, THEIR WAY TO MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES, AND ONCE YOU START SEEING THE LEAGUES MORE YOU SEE THE OWNERS COMPETING WITH THE BEST PLAYERS TO INCREASE THEIR REPUTATIONS.

THEY STARTED GIVING PERKS OF BETTER JOBS AND BETTER HOURS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO ENTICE THE BEST PLAYERS ONTO THEIR TEAMS.

♪ ANCHOR: A FEW ESPECIALLY GOOD PLAYERS FROM WOONSOCKET MOVED ONTO MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS.

>> THE TWO PLAYERS WHO WENT ON TOO STRONG BASEBALL CAREERS WERE NAPOLEON LED JOY AND -- NAPOLEON LAJOIE AND GABBY HARTNETT, WHO PLAYED FOR THE CHICAGO CUBS.

ANCHOR: NAPOLEON STARTED IN PHILADELPHIA BEFORE PLAYING MOST OF HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN CLEVELAND.

>> CLEVELAND WAS WHERE HE SPENT THE BIGGEST AMOUNT OF TIME IN HIS 21 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL.

HE'S THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE A TEAM NAMED FTER HIM.

HE WAS STILL ON THE TEAM AND WAS PLAYING ON A TEAM NAMED AFTER HIMSELF, THE CLEVELAND NAPS READ THERE WERE ORIGINALLY THE CLEVELAND BRONCOS.

ANCHOR: IN 1910, NAPOLEON WAS IN A TIGHT RACE FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE BATTING TITLE WITH TY COBB.

THE CHALMERS MOTOR CAR COMPANY HAD PROMISED A FREE CAR TO THE WINTER, -- FREE CAR TO THE WINNER, AND COBB WANTED THE CAR.

HE WAS LEADING BY A FEW POINTS BUT COBB WAS SO HATED, THE MANAGER OF THE ST. LOUIS BROWNS POSITIONED HIS TEAM TO ALLOW NAPOLEON TO HIT SIX BUNDT SINGLES.

HE WON THE CAR.

CHALMERS ENDED UP AWARDING CARS TO BOTH MEN.

THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER AS PLAYER AND MANAGER, NAP REMAINED HUMBLE AND NEVER FORGOT HIS ROOTS.

>> NAPOLEON HOLDS RECORDS THAT HAVE STILL NOT BEEN BROKEN AND IN ALL LIKELIHOOD WON'T BE BECAUSE THE BASEBALL RULES HAVE CHANGED.

BUT HE WAS FROM WOONSOCKET, WORKED IN A MILL, WAS A MEMBER OF THE GLOBE STAR TEAM, ONE OF THE TEAMS HERE IN WOONSOCKET.

ANCHOR: WHEN HE DID RETIRE, THE TEAM CHANGED THEIR NAMES TO THE CLEVELAND INDIANS.

NAP AND GABBY HARTNETT WENT ON TO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME, AND THEIR LEGACY LIVES ON HERE AT THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE.

>> WHEN THE PUBLIC COMES IN STUDENTS COME, THEIR IMMEDIATE REACTION IS SURPRISED THAT BASEBALL IS A PART OF THE STORY.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LABOR AND INDUSTRIALIZATION, YOU ARE NOT REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW THIS PEOPLE WERE SPENDING THEIR LEISURE TIME, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T REALLY EXIST.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST EXAMPLES WE HAVE OF, BECAUSE WHAT COMPANIES DIDN'T REALIZE, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE CREATING THESE TEAMS AS A WAY TO TRY TO PREVENT AND ORGANIZED LABOR MOVEMENT, THEY WERE ALSO GIVING PEOPLE THE FIRST TASTE OF WHAT IT MEANT TO HAVE LEISURE AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT TIME TOGETHER.

IN TERMS OF HOW BASEBALL FITS INTO OUR STORY, IT IS ALWAYS SURPRISING TO PEOPLE.

AND THAT IS ALSO HOW IT FITS INTO THE STORY OF AMERICANIZATION, THAT FIRST TASTE OF WHAT IT MEANT FOR AMERICA'S GREAT PASTIME, AND FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A TOUCHTONE THAT THEY -- A TOUCH STONE THAT THEY SHARED, BASEBALL WAS SOMETHING THEY COULD SHARE AS PART OF THEIR NEW AMERICAN IDENTITY.

TO THINK OF BASEBALL AND THOSE HISTORIC TERMS VERSUS JUST A SPORT OR PASTIME PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT OR HAVE THEIR FAVORITE TEAM OR A FAVORITE PLAYERS, JUST TENDS TO BE SOMETHING THEY AREN'T EXPECTING.

♪ ANCHOR: ANOTHER TREASURE AT THE MUSEUM IS THIS OLD RAILROAD BOXCAR.

IT IS DECORATED WITH COLORS OF THE FRENCH FLAG AND INCLUDES COATS OF ARMS FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY.

IT TELLS THE TALE OF A STORY THAT WAS ALMOST LOST TO HISTORY SCRAP PILE IN THE WOODS OF CHARLESTOWN, RHODE ISLAND.

♪ ON FEBRUARY 3, 19 49, 49 BOXCARS ARRIVED IN NEW YORK HARBOR.

THE VERSSAILLES TRAIN WAS A GIFT OF APPRECIATION FROM FRENCH CITIZENS WHO WANTED TO APPRECIATE AMERICANS FOR THE AID THEY HAD SENT.

THE SEA TRAIN WAS PARADED ACROSS THE STATE, AND THE GOVERNOR AT THE TIME SERVED AS HONORARY ENGINEER AS THE TRAIN ARRIVED FROM WOONSOCKET TO THE RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE.

DOZENS OF SOLDIERS WERE AMONG HUNDREDS GATHERED CATCH A GLIMPSE AND WELCOME THE BOXCAR.

SPEECHES WERE MADE, DIGNITARIES AND HONORED GUESTS CELEBRATED A BANQUET, AND THE GIFTS WERE PUT ON PUBLIC DISPLAY INSIDE THE GATE -- INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE.

♪ ONCE EMPTIED, THE OLD BOXCAR WAS LEFT AT THE AMERICAN LEGION CAMP IN BURLINGAME STATE PARK BEFORE BEING SOLD TO A JUNK DEALER, WHERE IT WAS ABANDONED.

EVENTUALLY IT WAS RESCUED AND RESTORED.

IN 2005, THE SEA TRAIN BOXCAR OFFICIALLY OPENED HERE AT THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE.

TODAY, THE BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED TRAIN CAR SITS AS A REMINDER OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES AND TWO CULTURES, A FRIENDSHIP THAT STARTED WITH LAFAYETTE DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND HAS SPANNED TWO WORLD WARS AND REMAINS A STRONG INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.

♪ ONE OF THE NEWEST FEATURES HERE AT THE MUSEUM IS ALSO ONE OF THE MORE UNIQUE.

IT IS CALLED THE TREASURY OF LIFE.

THEY HAVE CREATED A PLACE WHERE ANYONE CAN STORE THEIR OWN FAMILY TREASURES.

>> MANY FAMILIES HAVE ARTIFACTS THAT THEY WANT TO PRESERVE, THEY WANT TO KEEP, AND I THINK AT SOME POINT YOU WONDER WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THIS, AND WHO IS GOING TO BE THE HISTORIAN OR THE KEEPER OF YOUR FAMILY.

SO WITH THE TREASURE OF LIFE, -- THE TREASURY OF LIFE, WE OFFER A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN BRING THEIR TREASURES, THEIR MEMORABILIA, AND STORE THEM IN REAL SAFE-DEPOSIT BOXES.

>> SO WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HISTORY OF THEIR LEARNING.

WE KNOW THAT REINFORCES MEMORY AND LEARNING IN WAYS YOU DON'T THROUGH A PASSIVE EXPERIENCE.

>> WE INVITE PEOPLE TO OPEN THEIR BOX AND SHARE STORIES WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

WE BRING IN A CASE, AND PEOPLE CAN SHOWCASE THEIR OWN STORIES.

♪ ANCHOR: YOU MAY COME AWAY FROM THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE FEELING LIKE YOU JUST SPENT THE DAY WITH YOUR GRANDPARENTS, LEARNING ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND IN THE PROCESS, LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOURSELF.

♪ ♪ IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE IS A COLLECTION OF 10 MILLION LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND STATE DOCUMENTS THAT TELL THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

THIS IS THE STATE ARCHIVES.

>> THE STATE ARCHIVES HAS THE FANTASTIC MISSION TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS AND MANUSCRIPTS OF RHODE ISLAND HISTORY, PARTICULARLY THE HISTORY OF GOVERNMENT AND CULTURE.

>> THE RHODE ISLAND STATE ARCHIVES IS THIS AMAZING TREASURE TROVE.

IT IS OUR OWN PERSONAL TIME CAPSULE, AND IT LETS US SEE HOW THINGS HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST FOUR CENTURIES.

THERE ARE VERY FEW STATES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT DATE BACK TO THE 1600S.

WE ARE ONE OF THEM.

SO THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, THE DOCUMENTS, THE TREASURES, THE ARTIFACTS, ARE JUST FASCINATING.

ANCHOR: THE COLLECTIONS HERE DATE BACK TO 1638.

>> BEHIND ME AS A HIGH-RESOLUTION REPLICA OF THE ROYAL CHARTER FOR THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

IN 2015 THE ORIGINAL WENT THROUGH A TREMENDOUS CONSERVATION PROCESS, AND IS NOW IN A MUSEUM IN THE STATEHOUSE.

BUT WE HAD THIS DONE AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT TOUCHSTONE HERE, AND IT IDENTIFIES THAT LIVELY EXPERIMENT.

THAT PHRASE IS FOUND IN THE DOCUMENT.

WE TALK ABOUT IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN, BECAUSE PEOPLE CONNECT WITH IT VERY MUCH AND THEY PARTICULARLY LIKE THE IMAGE OF CHARLES THE SECOND, WHO LOOKS JUST LIKE CAPTAIN HOOK.

>> THE ARCHIVES ARE A MUSEUM BUT IT IS MORE THAN WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF IN TERMS OF A MUSEUM.

IT IS VERY STATIC AND PASSIVE.

THE ARCHIVES ARE ABOUT PEOPLE'S STORIES.

IT IS A COLLECTION OF STORIES.

♪ ANCHOR: IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RHODE ISLAND, WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN, WHAT KIND OF TRANSPORTATION WE USED, AND HOW WE HAVE EVOLVED OVER TIME, YOU CAN FIND ANSWERS AT THE STATE ARCHIVES.

EACH COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS TELLS A STORY.

IN THE 1960'S, RHODE ISLAND BUILT THE FIRST BRIDGE CONNECTING JAMESTOWN TO NEWPORT.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WORKED ON THE PROJECT THAT TOOK FOUR YEARS TO BUILD.

BUT LONG BEFORE THE NEWPORT PELL BRIDGE, THE STATE BUILT THE MOUNT HOPE BRIDGE.

ON OCTOBER 20 4, 19 29, GOVERNOR NORMAN CASE WAS JOINED -- 1929, GOVERNOR NORMAN CASE WAS JOINED BY NATIVE GROUPS TO CELEBRATE THE SPAN.

THE ARCHIVES HAS A SMALL EXHIBIT SPACE USED TO TELL THE DIFFERENT STORIES THAT ARE PART OF OUR HISTORY.

>> WE DO BETWEEN THREE AND FOR A YEAR, AND WE DO THEM ON A SUBJECT OR TOPIC, AN INTERESTING TOPIC IN RHODE ISLAND HISTORY AND CONNECT IT, WHETHER WE CONNECTED TO THE GREATER PICTURE OF THE U.S. AS A COUNTRY, WHETHER WE ARE CONNECTING IT TO A SPECIFIC COMMUNITY AND CULTURE, AND WE LIKE TO ROTATE THEM SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME AND VISIT, THEY CAN SEE DIFFERENT PIECES OF THE PUZZLE OF RHODE ISLAND OVER TIME.

ANCHOR: THIS EXHIBIT CENTERS ON WATERWAYS AND THEY ROLL -- AND THE ROLE PLAYED IN STATE HISTORY.

>> YOU CAN'T TELL THE STORY ABOUT THE WATER WITHOUT TELLING THE STORY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND HOW THEY USED IT AND HOW WE RELIED ON THEM.

THIS IS A RIVER WHERE COME -- RIVER WIER, USED TO SLOW THE PROGRESS OF A FISH AS IT MAKES ITS WAY UPRIVER, TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR A HUNTER OR FISHERMAN TO CATCH.

YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A BIG OPENING AT ASHLEY'S END, AND THEN THE FISH, IN THEORY, SWIMS UP HERE AND THEN GETS SLOWED DOWN BY THE NARROW.

I WILL MOVE IT AROUND SO YOU CAN SEE THE NARROW.

SO IT GETS SLOWED DOWN AT THE NARROW END, AND THEN THE LUCKY FISHERMAN CAN PROBABLY GO WITH AN ARROW OR A SPIRIT.

THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

WATER HAS GONE FROM TRANSPORTATION TO CIVIC GATHERING SPACE AND BACK AGAIN, AND IT CONTINUES TO LITERALLY ABEND FLOW AND AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES DIFFERENTLY.

-- LITERALLY TW -- LITERALLY TO EBB AND FLOW, AND AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES DIFFERENTLY.

THIS IS A MANIFEST FROM 1785-1789 THE REGISTERED TRADE.

WHAT CAPTAINS WERE COMING INTO THE PORT, WHAT THEY WERE CARRYING, AND IT WAS PARTIALLY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT WAS COMING IN AND GOING OUT, THE VALUE AND MONEY COMING IN AND HOW IT WAS BEING DISPERSED.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT IS, INSTEAD OF LOOKING DREARY, NOT THAT I BELIEVE THAT ABOUT HISTORIC DOCUMENTS, BUT SOME PEOPLE EXPECT THAT, AND THIS ACTUALLY HAS THESE TREMENDOUS, COLORED PIECES ADDED IN BY THE GENTLE MAN WHO WROTE EVERYTHING DOWN, -- THE GENTLEMAN WHO WROTE EVERY THING DOWN.

YOU HAVE THIS INTRICATE HANDWRITING AND YOU FIND DOODLES THROUGHOUT.

THERE YOU GO.

WHAT WAS PROBABLY THE STATEHOUSE AT THE TIME, BECAUSE WHY NOT?

MY FAVORITE IS ON THE FINAL PAGE, TREES HERE AND ON THE VERY LAST PAGE, A GOAT HANGING OUT.

IT IS REALLY NOT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A VOLUME THAT LOOKS SO HEFTY AND SERIOUS.

THIS IS A MAP FROM NEWPORT COUNTY FROM 1850.

I'M WANT TO CAREFULLY FLIP THIS.

THERE WE GO.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL YOU CAN SEE IT.

AGAIN, IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE LATE MID 1800S, 1850, THERE IS COLOR ON IT.

MOST PEOPLE EXPECT NOT TO FIND COLOR WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS.

WE LIKE TO POINT OUT TO STUDENTS OR ANY RESEARCHER THAT THERE IS UNIQUENESS, AND MORE LIFE IN THESE HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS THAN THEY EXPECT TO FIND.

THIS IS THE GATSBY PROCLAMATION.

EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES GEORGE III FROM "HAMILTON" NOW, BUT THE BEAUTY IS THIS SEAL.

THE DOCUMENT WAS PRESERVED WITH THE SEAL.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL.

THE SEAL THAT CAME WITH THE ROYAL CHARTER I MENTIONED OUTSIDE, WE HAVE THE FRAGMENTS OF IT.

BUT IT IS NOT IN ONE PIECE.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL WAX SEAL MAINTAINED IN ONE PIECE.

YOU HAVE THE BEAUTY OF THE DOCUMENT WITH ALL ITS ART AND THE SEAL THAT MADE IT OFFICIAL.

THIS IS A BROADSIDE, A PRINTING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE RHODE ISLAND RECEIVED AS AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IT HAPPENED.

SO IT WAS PRINTED, AND ON THE VERY BOTTOM YOU CAN SEE IT SAYS, A TRUE COPY SIGNED BY JOHN HANCOCK.

HE IS CONFERMENT -- HE IS CONFIRMING THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AND THIS IS THE INFORMATION THEY SHOULD BE GOING ON.

YOU CAN SEE THE SIGNERS, RHODE ISLAND'S ARE RIGHT HERE, STEPHEN HAWKINS AND WILLIAM MALLORY.

>> OUR VAULT HAS OUR MOST PRECIOUS DOCUMENTS.

IT IS HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE.

BUT I THINK THE ACT OF RENUNCIATION, THIS IS AN ACT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED, RENOUNCING THE KING OF ENGLAND.

WE WERE THE FIRST COLONY TO DO THIS.

I LOVE IT BECAUSE IT IS A MESSY DOCUMENT.

THERE IS BEAUTIFUL HANDWRITING, BUT THE FIRST PARAGRAPH WAS ACTUALLY CROSSED OUT.

BUT YOU CAN STILL READ WHAT IT SAID, AND YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE'S THOUGHT PROCESSES.

WE STARTED REALLY INFLAMMATORY AND THEN WE WERE AT THE SECOND PARAGRAPH AND THEN THE THIRD, AND THEN SOMEBODY SAID, THAT FIRST PARAGRAPH IS OVER THE EDGE, LET'S TAKE HER -- LET'S TAPER THAT DOWN.

SO IT WAS CROSSED OUT.

YOU SEE THE MESSINESS THE GOVERNMENT IS IN THIS ONE DOCUMENT, WHICH PROCEEDED PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY ELSE IN SAYING, WE WANT TO BE OUR OWN PEOPLE.

WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THIS KING.

♪ [CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ♪