Historic photos from Robert M. Downie
Airplane pilot Amelia Earhart visited the island in July 1929, staying at the Narragansett Inn. As a publicity stunt, she dived in a hard-hat suit off a submarine in Great Salt Pond.
The island’s three US Life-Saving Stations welcomed visitors during the lazy days of summer, giving this child a happy ride on the government’s equipment.
This German crew died when their U-Boat was sunk in 1945, five miles off Crescent Beach, at the end of WWII. The sinking occurred just a few hours before Germany surrendered. The wreck is now a popular spot for expert scuba divers.
