It seemed appropriate this year to feature a theme that kept me close to home, so I give you my A to Z within the small acreage that is Rhode Island. I tried to be creative (you’ll see!) but I hope you learn something about Little Rhody, too. Whether you’ve lived here all your life, grew up within the boundaries, or have never set foot on one of our many beaches, come along for a virtual tour.
Galilee is a fishing village on Point Judith, located within the town of Narragansett. It’s the pushing-off point for the Block Island ferry (“B” is for Block Island!) and is home to the largest fishing fleet in Rhode Island.
Spoiler alert! Galilee is directly across the channel (harbor) from Jerusalem. Unlike the 78-mile distance between Galilee and Jerusalem in Israel, in Rhode Island you could just swim across the channel. Only you can’t. It’s not allowed. It’s not a good idea, anyway, although I’m old enough to remember when our friends, who had a summer house in Jerusalem, did swim the narrow-ish width to get to Galilee (she might have gotten in trouble for doing it, too). Galilee is, indeed, named after the biblical Galilee, and is home to many fishermen.
The photo above was taken on a blustery day in January, with the wind whipping the waves. This is what used to be known as Galilee State Beach (established in 1954), but was renamed in 1990 after a beloved Rhode Island radio personality, Walter “Salty” Brine.
Today, the port of Galilee transports over 16 million pounds of seafood and shellfish each year. The population of Galilee swells in the summertime, even doubling in size. The Block Island ferry, which operates year-round (weather permitting), offers a ‘traditional’ service, from Galilee to Old Harbor in just under an hour, and a fancy ‘high-speed’ service that will get you to ‘the Block’ in just thirty minutes. There are also fishing charters available from Galilee.
So, how did Galilee get its name? Well, according to local legend (or maybe it really is true), in 1902, a fisherman by the name of Thomas Mann relocated from Nova Scotia. He looked around and saw all the fishing shacks, and thought the area should be called Galilee, after the biblical fishing village. One day, an old man was sitting on the dock, repairing his fishing nets, and he called out, “Where am I, anyway?” Someone responded, “You’re in Galilee!” He pointed across the narrow channel and asked, “And where is that?” The same man thought about it for a minute, then replied, “That must be Jerusalem!”
Martha Reynolds Writes 
Another beautiful place to wonder around on a bike, including Great Island and the ever coolest road name Galilee Escape Road!
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Haha! Galilee was the first stop when I began these road trips around Rhode Island. I tend to stay away during the crowded summertime, although the weather has been so crummy, it’s probably not that crowded. 🌧
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I was curious to read this for it was referenced in J. The beaches look lively. I had smiles knowing how Galilee got its name.:-D
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I love visiting the ocean in the winter. Weekends In Maine
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Lovely story about the naming of Galilee. Loving your pictures of the beach, Martha.
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Such an interesting story. I chuckled at your comment about not being allowed to swim from Galilee to Jerusalem.
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I did not know that there is a Galilee in Rhode Island.
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There is! More surprises to come!
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I can’t think of Galilee without thinking of George’s.
Galilee/Jerusalem; even if apocryphal, it works for me.
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Love Galilee! In the early days of our relationship, my husband & I would spend a week in Narragansett (before it got ridiculously built-up). Many afternoons, we’d go down to George’s, where my husband ALWAYS got the RI chowder and I got clam cakes. In later years, we’d sometimes take my wheel-chair-bound mother; not often, though — finding parking was a bitch!
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Rhode Island chowder is my favorite, too!
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I’m getting smarter each day 😉
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Hahaha!
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Wonderful Martha, thank you! I have been going out to Block Island for 6 years now working at the Medical Center . I fly in the Winter and take the Ferry in the Summer, it is so beautiful!
Gallilee/Jerusalem “buzz in the Summer”(Pretty magical year round). Thanks for sharing this story!
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Cute story about the naming of the town. Someone on my former husband’s side of the family had a town named after her. Now you have me thinking.
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Hari OM
Well I never… and why not, eh?! YAM xx
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