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The
Narragansett Towers |
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The Famous
Towers remains Narragansett's strongest link to its storied past. The
bold span, which crosses the town's scenic ocean drive, is a reminder of
Narragansett's gilded age, that opulent period around the turn of the
century when "Narragansett Pier" rivaled a then
even-more-prominent Newport in terms of sumptuousness and social
prestige. The Towers was an integral element of the great Narragansett
Pier Casino, designed by McKim, Mead & White, landscape by Fredrick
Olmstead, and constructed 1883-1886 at the core of the thriving resort,
where it instantly became the centerpiece of social activity. In those
halcyon before the automobile stimulated a craze for unrestricted
travel, tourists were accustomed to long, stationary vacations, and
Narragansett, featuring 19 major luxury hotels, was a favored
destination.
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During the "Gay Nineties" The Narragansett Pier
Casino functioned at the heart of life in Narragansett. "The Pier" ranked as one of America's most prestigious resorts. The Casino offered boating, billiards, bowling, cards, shooting, tennis and other sports. Further diversions included restaurants, stores, reading rooms, a theater, bandstand, and a ballroom. "Bathing" at the beach was limited to an hour or two midmorning before luncheon at the Casino. Dancing at one of the Casino's frequent evening "hops" included "promenades" across The Towers arch.
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The Great Fire of
September 12, 1900
On perhaps the darkest day in the long history of Narragansett, fire
broke out in the Rockingham Hotel and spread quickly to the Casino. In a
few short hours the wind-whipped flames desolated the center of town. The
main, shingled Casino burned to the ground. Only the granite walls of The
Towers remained. But Narragansett rallied and persevered. On July 8, 1905,
a new Casino, designed by McKim, Mead & White like it's predecessor,
opened. And by 1910, The Towers had been renovated.
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The Towers has
survived calamitous 20th Century events since the great conflagration of
1900. It was severely damaged again by fire in 1965.It has been battered
cruelly by many north-easters as well as the enormous hurricanes of 1938,
1954, and 1991 (each which decimated surrounding structures). On every
occasion The Towers held fast, acquiring an almost-magical reputation for
indestructibility - truly Narragansett's good luck symbol. Today, superbly
restored, The Towers revives the romance of the past with style and
elegance. |
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Visit
the Towers
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