Why Navy warships keep visiting this small Rhode Island town every Independence Day

USS Juniata’s 1876 Visit Launches Bristol Naval Tradition

Bristol’s Fourth of July has a naval twist most towns can’t match. In 1876, the USS Juniata sailed into harbor with 160 men led by Civil War hero Captain Greene.

They joined the town’s centennial parade just a century after the British had bombed and burned the same streets. The visits grew into a tradition by the early 1900s.

Since then, nearly every type of warship has docked here – from battleships to submarines.

The connection runs deep in this waterfront town where visitors can still tour Navy vessels and meet sailors during America’s oldest continuous Independence Day celebration.

British Cannons Once Bombarded This Rhode Island Town

Captain James Wallace fired on Bristol for 90 minutes on October 7, 1775, after town leaders refused to give him supplies.

Just three years later, British and Hessian troops attacked again, burning 30 buildings, about 20% of all homes in town.

These attacks hurt Bristol deeply, making America’s 100th birthday in 1876 very meaningful for locals who still remembered stories of British naval attacks.

The town’s firsthand war experience shaped how they celebrated independence a century later.

A Warship Sailed Into Town And Started A 150-Year Tradition

The three-masted ship USS Juniata steamed into Bristol Harbor from Bermuda on July 4, 1876, covered with colorful flags and streamers. Captain Samuel Dana Greene led the vessel with 160 sailors aboard.

The crew joined Bristol’s centennial Fourth of July parade, walking through streets that had seen British damage a century earlier. This visit marked the first time a U.S. Navy warship came to Bristol harbor, starting what grew into a lasting tradition.

The Ship’s Captain Had Fought In History’s First Ironclad Battle

Samuel Dana Greene brought real Civil War experience to Bristol.

He worked as executive officer on USS Monitor during its famous 1862 battle with CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads. When Captain John Worden got hurt during the historic ironclad fight, Greene took over.

He stayed with Monitor from its start until it sank, and led it during James River operations from April to May 1862. By the time he brought Juniata to Bristol, Greene had risen to Commander rank.

Naval Visits Took A Break For Several Decades

After the 1876 celebration, Navy ships stopped coming to Bristol regularly.

The town kept holding Fourth of July celebrations, but without the naval presence that made the centennial so special. This gap in ship visits lasted for decades, with no plan to bring warships back to Bristol Harbor.

The link between the town and Navy seemed to fade as the years went by.

A Wealthy Businessman Brought The Navy Back In 1910

Colonel Samuel P. Colt used his connections to get cruiser USS Tacoma to visit Bristol Harbor in 1910.

The ship came to help celebrate the 100th birthday of Linden Place, Colt’s big mansion in town. Tacoma arrived with guns firing to salute both the mansion and Fourth of July.

As founder of United States Rubber Company and Industrial Trust Bank, Colt had the pull needed to restart Bristol’s relationship with the Navy.

Ships Started Showing Up Every Summer

In the early 1900s, the Navy began sending ships to Bristol regularly for Independence Day.

What started as occasional visits turned into a yearly tradition with ships spending the entire week in port during festivities.

The practice became normal, creating a steady connection between Bristol’s waterfront community and America’s naval history. This pattern set up a tradition that has now lasted nearly 150 years.

Destroyer Crews Became Regular Fourth Of July Guests

After World War II, celebrations featured many destroyers visiting Bristol. USS Johnston dropped anchor in 1947 and came back in 1956.

USS Perry showed up in both 1948 and 1955. Some years brought multiple warships, like 1949 when both USS Steinaker and USS Vogelgesang visited.

The summer of 1950 saw USS Warrington and USS Lloyd Thomas in port at the same time, giving locals plenty of Navy ships to admire.

The Town Welcomed A Ship That Shared Its Name

USS Bristol, a destroyer, made many visits to its namesake town throughout the 1950s and 1960s. The ship called on Bristol in 1951, 1953, 1954, and 1960, creating a special bond between vessel and community.

After October 1950, USS Bristol stayed in nearby Newport, making visits easier.

The destroyer had earned battle stars for service in both World War II and Korea before becoming a regular at Bristol’s celebrations.

From Battleships To Submarines, Bristol Has Seen Them All

Almost every type of Navy vessel has tied up in Bristol over the decades.

Early years saw huge battleships like USS Louisiana (1913, 1915), USS Michigan (1916), and USS Kansas (1920).

Light cruisers including USS Huntington (1962), USS Trenton (1927), USS Richmond (1930), USS Raleigh (1931), and USS Cincinnati (1933) all visited.

Submarines, mine sweepers, seaplanes, and destroyer escorts showed up too. In 1923, six destroyers came at once, filling the harbor.

Modern Warships Keep The Tradition Afloat

Guided missile cruisers and frigates often visited from the 1980s through 2000s. USS Simpson stopped by multiple times, including 1992 and 2003.

The landing ship USS Whidbey Island visited in both 2008 and 2012, while destroyer USS Bulkeley came in 2009.

The tradition hit a rare gap from 2013-2015 when no ships visited, but quickly started again as the Navy renewed its link to this historic connection.

America’s Newest Combat Ships Still Visit The Nation’s Oldest Fourth Celebration

USS Billings, a Freedom-class littoral combat ship commissioned in 2019, visited for Bristol’s 240th celebration in 2025.

The sleek, modern warship represents the newest generation of Navy vessels, continuing a tradition now spanning 149 years. Water taxis ferried visitors from Bristol Town Pier to tour the ship moored outside the harbor.

Sailors mingled with locals, maintaining the connection between today’s Navy and the town that faced British naval guns during the Revolution.

Visiting Bristol, Rhode Island

Navy ships visit Bristol Harbor every Fourth of July week, continuing a tradition from the early 1900s.

You can take water taxi tours from Bristol Town Pier at 127 Thames Street for 30-minute sailor-led ship tours from July 3-7. Bring valid photo ID and expect metal detector screening before boarding.

You’ll need to climb steep ladders and board the water taxi. The ships host receptions for special guests plus over 300 daily public tours.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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