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The fourth day of our trip dawned wet.

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So we headed back to the base to check out the Naval War College museum and hopefully find someone familiar with its recent history to talk with my husband about his time there.

On the way, we passed the required geese.

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Rain doesn’t bother them a bit.

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The museum is a fine old building with a unique back story.

From Newport Poor House to Founders Hall

Coasters Harbor Island was the site of Newport’s Asylum for the Poor. Built in 1819, the stone and brick building provided shelter for the town’s homeless. At various times it also served as a quarantine site during epidemics, as a holding area for minor criminals and as a facility for the insane. By the early 1880s, the overflowing facility was taxing Newport’s resources. In 1881 the town relocated the inmates to other institutions and the State Assembly of Rhode Island ceded the island and the building to the federal government.

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As we walked around, we found it had some interesting exhibits.

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But we soon realized we were the only people there…

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Aside from this headless fellow.

No staff, no docents, not a single person for my husband to engage in conversation.

Oh, the horror.

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From the first submarine…

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To a sailor enjoying his projectile a bit too much.

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Past a torpedo boat that just looked… wrong.

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And a WWI listening device that appeared to be George Lucas designed… the place was as quiet as a tomb.

There were marvelous model ships.

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And some history that made me laugh.

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The close ups will explain the laughing.

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Oh, those crazy colonials.

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A civil war drum.

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Some lovely memorabilia.

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With a sailor who knew how to work a parasol.

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We saw a portrait of an admiral who was a dead ringer for Ben Kingsley.

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And propaganda posters…

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As well as a death mask with some ceremonial silver.

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There was even a possible ancestor of the Charmin toilet paper spokesman.

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But not a single historian with whom my husband could chat.

Feeling badly for him, I suggested we take the elevator to the top floor office. We did, but only found a 30 something secretary who hadn’t even been born when my husband was stationed here.

We enjoyed the museum, but I know my guy was disappointed.

And when you’re disappointed?

There’s always beer.

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Newport craft brewery to be exact.

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Which had an excellent tasting space…

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And some very tasty beer.

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I liked the Ungourdly Hour so much I brought some home.

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We were hungry enough for a nibble and discovered they had a satellite station of Wally’s Weiners, a Newport favorite.

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I can’t say I was overly impressed with the corn dog bites or garlic Parmesan fries…

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But the beer was good… and my husband had an hour long conversation with the bartender, telling stories of the old days so I know he was happy.

😊

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