#AtoZ Stay Home! Wear a Mask! "T" is for TOUISSET
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.
The name Touisset ("TWISS-et") comes from a Native American Wampanoag name meaning 'at the old field' or 'at the corn field.' Touisset Point, in the town of Warren, was inhabited by Native Americans before the European settlers arrived. They lived off the land, enjoying the proximity to the water and all it provided.
The Touisset Marsh Wildlife Refuge is part of the Rhode Island Audubon Society, and is a 66-acre site situated on the Kickemuit River and Mount Hope Bay.
By the late 1800s, Touisset Point was developed as a summer community for wealthy Rhode Islanders who bought or rented farm houses to escape the heat and noise of the city and enjoy the cooler breezes that blew in off the water.
The wildlife refuge is a quiet, calming place if you can't afford to rent a house in Touisset Point. It has a one-mile, easy trail that provides views of the Kickemuit River. The area is full of flowering fields in the summer months, and you may see butterflies. In the woods, there's a possibility of sighting deer or fox, and perhaps a harbor seal in the water. The hike can be muddy in springtime, but it's a good spot for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing when there's snow on the ground.
