Its full name is "The State of Rhode Island and Providence 
     Plantations". Giovanni da Verrazano in 1524 described present day 
     Block Island (off the coast of Rhode Island) as "...being about the 
     bigness of the Island of Rhodes..." which is in the Mediterranean Sea. 
        In 1635 Roger Williams left Massachusetts because of a disagreement 
     with the puritans (not a good thing to do in that place at that time). 
     He said "...God's Providence has lead me here in my distress..." and 
     thus the second part of the name.
        Hope to see you there...