Tour of Camp Varnum – Wednesday, July 6 – 6:00 – 8:00 pm Free – due to space constraints, attendance limited to 40 members & their guests only – reserve by June 30
Camp Varnum, off of Route 1A in Narragansett, came into being in 1943 as part of the Defenses of Narragansett Bay in World War II and is now used for training purposes by the National Guard. It was built to look like a typical New England fishing village and still looks the part. It occupies 34 ocean-front acres with magnificent views of the ocean and Whale Rock.
The tour will be conducted by National Guard personnel and includes:
Initial group gathering with history of the camp and display of many World War II photographs of the fort, then break-out to three groups –
- Tour one of three concrete fire/observation towers painted to look like wooden houses
- An armament storage magazine
- Gathering back for refreshments and discussions
Please note that there are some stairs, and the tour terrain is uneven, so good comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
The camp is not generally open to the public, and this is a rare opportunity. Photographs are allowed, but attendees must be bring personal ID.
Kathie Kelleher, current Vice-President (and past President) of Narragansett Historical Society has arranged for this exclusive tour for the Narragansett Historical Society, and it is being offered only to Society members (who may bring a guest.) Please reserve your place by either calling Kathie at 783-3951 or emailing her at friendscanonchet@aol.com by Thursday, June 30.