Today both islands tumultuous efforts for personal, religious and political independence are celebrated annually with enthusiasm and style! July 4th festivities ring throughout all the communities of Aquidneck Island, while late July brings 10 lively days of Carnival to Antigua. One of the best cultural celebrations in the islands, this summer's Antigua Carnival is scheduled from July 27th through August 6th and commemorates the abolition of slavery.
As former British colonies, Aquidneck and Antigua have long hosted bases and yards for naval operations at various times in their respective histories. Forts, bunkers, wharves and battlements still stand throughout both islands, reminders of a similar past and their strategic value to various rulers and governments. Aquidneck's Fort Adams sits at the south entrance to Newport Harbor, where in earlier times a watchful eye was cast to the bay and the sea for approaching enemy vessels.
Today this old fort and its spacious grounds serve as a treasured state park, offering a variety of recreational opportunities, events and music festivals for residents and visitors. This summer Ft. Adams will again host the renowned JVC Jazz Festival, August 8-10th, and the Apple and Eve Folk Festival, August 15-17th as well as many other events.
High on the hills to the east of English Harbour, Antigua lies the restored ruins of an 18th century English observation post Shirley Heights which today enjoys a new life as a recreational and leisure venue for Antiguans and visitors alike. Named for Sir Thomas Shirley, this military complex sits advantageously overlooking English and Falmouth Harbours. The site offers nearly 270 degrees of breathtaking panorama, including views of the nearby islands of Montserrat and Guadeloupe.
Shirley Heights was a perfect vantage point in more hazardous times for securing English and Falmouth Harbours from enemies. Today it remains popular among locals, yacht crews and tourists in the know for its famous Sunday afternoon gatherings to enjoy a rum punch, barbecue, Steel & Reggae Bands. It is also a popular spectator position during Antigua Sailing Week and other regattas. Similarly, Newport's Castle Hill is a popular Sunday gathering spot for music and brunch or watching the start of races.
Naval operations in turn, have traditionally afforded security and protection to each island's growing populations and commercial ventures through times of uncertainty, predation and war. Aquidneck Island still reigns today as a preferred homeport for vessels of the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, with many piers, ship berths and wharves dotting the western shores of Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth.
Though the busiest years for Newport naval operations seem to be now past, the Navy still remains a strong, visible and welcome presence, with the heaviest concentration of its remaining facilities in Middletown. The oldest and esteemed U.S. Naval War College welcomes military and naval students, strategists and teachers from all parts of the world. With handsome buildings and grounds, it sits proudly off the northern end of Newport Harbor, on Narragansett Bay.
Prime shoreline resources not to be wasted, many former Navy properties have been converted to civilian uses, with boat building, marine trade and repair businesses thriving and serving an ever growing private yacht industry. Antigua's distinguished place in maritime and naval history is unequivocal. The 1650's mark the earliest uses of English Harbour for ship careening and warship repairs. Nelson's Dockyard, in English Harbour, is the only remaining Georgian naval dockyard in the world, dating back to 1725.
Named after the famous British hero of Trafalgar (1805) - Lord Horatio Nelson, the Dockyard was originally designed to service wooden sailing warships, maintaining and careening them, thus saving the long voyage to America for docking. The yard also saw the siting of other buildings and services critical to ships and their maintenance Ð not the least of which was water collection, in cisterns that are still in use today.