I learned a a lot about Providence RI while doing my podcast with Dr. Ed Iannuccelli yesterday. It’s going to be a great one to listen to, but in the mean while here’s a quick post about Providence RI’s role in Italian immigration.
Italians began arriving from southern Italy in the 1870’s and by 1895 Federal Hill was about 50% Italian and 50% Irish. In the early part of the 20th centur, due to the need for immigrant labor, the Farber Steamship Line from France began making stops in Italy and the Azores and made Providence RI a port of call. Most of the Italian Immigrants walked up Federal Hill and settled there. Here’s a great article from Steaming Into The Future on how and why.
When visiting Providence there is the Federal Hill Heritage Center with exhibits on the Italian Immigrants
You can also visit and join The Italian American Historical Society of RI for more information.
