Found History: The Old Man's Face Of Narragansett by Keith R Wahl, Made From RI Gallery
Harkening back to the heady days of Victorian Era Narragansett, Rhode Island. The word of the day was resorts. The places to visit were the casino, the resorts, and the shore.
The inspiration of Narragansett Victorian architecture was rock and stone. The Narragansett Towers. The Lifesaving station that is now a restaurant and churches remain. These are all credited to the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White.
The hobby of the time was photography. George Eastman of Kodak fame (a contemporary of that time) played a big role in this pastime. Tourists brought their shiny new cameras to Narragansett on their vacations.
Old Man's Face Close Up
Old Man's Face Close UpThe historic visage of the Old Man's Face rock formation off Point Judith, Narragansett, Rhode Island.
What was Rhode Island's greatest photographic subject of the time? A formation off of Point Judith known as the "Old Man's Face".
The casinos burned, wars to end all wars came and went, and the nature of Narragansett tourism changed. The anthropomorphic "Old Man's Face" became almost forgotten. Until the last year that is.
I saw a questioning post on social media based on an old postcard book. I became determined to find this rock. Find it I did. Plotting the tide and wind, I found the "Old Man" still resting east of Point Judith. Unlike New Hampshire's "Old Man of the Mountain", our formation is still here out in the water. Visible at low tide. Staring towards the heavens, the formation is still there.
(Any of the slideshow photos are available for purchase here: Old Man's Face, Point Judith, Narragansett, Rode Island)
The historic visage of the Old Man's Face rock formation off Point Judith, Narragansett, Rhode Island.
© Keith R Wahl, Made From RI/Made From RI Gallery, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Keith R Wahl and Made From RI/Made From RI Gallery with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
The inspiration of Narragansett Victorian architecture was rock and stone. The Narragansett Towers. The Lifesaving station that is now a restaurant and churches remain. These are all credited to the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White.
The hobby of the time was photography. George Eastman of Kodak fame (a contemporary of that time) played a big role in this pastime. Tourists brought their shiny new cameras to Narragansett on their vacations.
Old Man's Face Close Up
Old Man's Face Close UpThe historic visage of the Old Man's Face rock formation off Point Judith, Narragansett, Rhode Island.
What was Rhode Island's greatest photographic subject of the time? A formation off of Point Judith known as the "Old Man's Face".
The casinos burned, wars to end all wars came and went, and the nature of Narragansett tourism changed. The anthropomorphic "Old Man's Face" became almost forgotten. Until the last year that is.
I saw a questioning post on social media based on an old postcard book. I became determined to find this rock. Find it I did. Plotting the tide and wind, I found the "Old Man" still resting east of Point Judith. Unlike New Hampshire's "Old Man of the Mountain", our formation is still here out in the water. Visible at low tide. Staring towards the heavens, the formation is still there.
(Any of the slideshow photos are available for purchase here: Old Man's Face, Point Judith, Narragansett, Rode Island)
The historic visage of the Old Man's Face rock formation off Point Judith, Narragansett, Rhode Island.
© Keith R Wahl, Made From RI/Made From RI Gallery, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Keith R Wahl and Made From RI/Made From RI Gallery with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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