The town dubbed itself America’s Most Patriotic Town years ago.
Now
it’s also one of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2009, an
annual award given by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The
East Bay Chamber of Commerce presented it to state and local officials
last night.
Town Administrator Diane C. Mederos said it’s an
honor that few New England communities have received and she is glad
Bristol is among them.
The trust has been naming Distinctive
Destinations since 2000. Westerly was the first Rhode Island community
to get the honor, in 2002. Newport received it in 2004 and the state’s
capital city, Providence, was honored in 2007.
It named Bristol
because it is a “quintessential New England waterfront town” that is
“steeped in a rich history that spans three centuries.”
Richard
Moe, president of the nonprofit organization, said, “Bristol’s
unaffected quality coupled with its incomparable collection of historic
architecture, cultural landscapes and thriving commercial district make
it an important destination for any visitor who wants to experience an
authentic sense of place in New England.”
Specific sites
mentioned include the town center, which is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, Coggeshall Farm, the Herreshoff Marine
Museum, Colt State Park and Blithewold estate, a 45-room, English-style
manor where many couples have tied the knot.
The organization said the town creates a “storybook experience that serves as an ideal retreat.”
— Alisha A. Pina