Special Events & Programs

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Join Captain Jack Spratt as he commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a compelling story of the Revolutionary War along our shores. In 1775 and 1777, continental privateers—the “maritime militia”—sailed from our waters, driven by both patriotism and the promise of profit. By capturing British merchant ships, they kept the “Struggle for American Liberty” fed and armed at its most desperate hour while drastically disrupting British commerce throughout the Atlantic Basin. British warships chased, engaged, and seized American privateers off Watch Hill, treating them as pirates and sending many to the notorious prison ships anchored in New York Harbor at Wallabout Bay, where the infamous HMS Jersey became a symbol of suffering and sacrifice. Stonington and Fishers Island endured British foraging raids, while Gardiners Island, firmly Loyalist along with much of Long Island, stood with the Crown, creating a stark divide across the Sound. This is a story of how ordinary sailors and their neighbors, in what was truly our country’s first civil war, helped win the struggle for independence. As part of the program, Captain Jack will also share recommended local Revolutionary War sites to explore during this remarkable milestone of democracy. The event is free and open to the public. Presented by The Westerly Historical Society, with support from The Watch Hill Conservancy and Grey Sail Brewing.  

Presented by Norman Smith, Raptor Specialist Snowy Owl Project, Mass Audubon, Lincoln, MA Since 1981, raptor specialist Norman Smith has spent countless days and nights, in every imaginable weather condition, observing, capturing, banding, and relocating Snowy Owls from Logan International Airport. Affectionately called “the Owl Man of Logan Airport,” Smith has single-handedly relocated more than 900 of these magnificent birds, gathering valuable data on their roosting patterns, hunting behavior, and seasonal movements. Enjoy a screening of this award-winning documentary short about his work, followed by a live presentation and Q&A with Norman to find out what he has learned, what questions remain and how this project expanded to include studies of Northern Saw-whet Owl populations.

Each spring and fall, tens to hundreds of thousands of birds move across the Napatree Point Conservation Area under the cover of darkness, passing overhead in one of nature's most extraordinary yet largely invisible phenomena. This presentation invites you into an evening exploration of bird migration, with a special focus on the hidden world of nocturnal songbird migration along the Rhode Island coast.  Join Sam Miller, non-game bird wildlife biologist as he describes the remarkable strategies birds use to travel between breeding, stopover, and wintering habitats across vast geographic scales, and the challenges they face along the way. Deepen your appreciation for this hidden natural phenomenon, and learn practical conservation strategies, many of which you can practice to protect birds during one of nature’s most remarkable journeys.

The Stanton-Davis House and property are all that remain of the vast 17th and 18th century holdings of the Stanton Family of Stonington, CT. The lecture will present the history of the house, property, and its owners, and describe the methods and process of building archaeology, revealing the evolution of this grand house and the technology of its construction and alteration. 

Watch Hill’s homes are an essential part of the community’s identity and coastal heritage. Many of these properties were built centuries ago with exceptional craftsmanship, yet they face increasing challenges from aging materials, intense coastal conditions, and changing weather patterns. This educational presentation, designed for both full time residents and seasonal homeowners, focuses on responsible stewardship: how thoughtful maintenance, resilience planning, and appropriate protection work together to help preserve older homes while respecting their important history and character.

Join Catherine Shotick, inaugural director of the highly anticipated Westerly Museum of American Impressionism as she discusses how artists working along the Northeast coast shaped a distinctly American interpretation of Impressionism. Drawing from works in the museum’s collection, she examines key artist colonies—from Ogunquit, Maine, to Cape Ann, Old Lyme, and coastal Rhode Island—where painters responded directly to the region’s light, atmosphere, and seasonal rhythms.  Through selected case studies, the presentation considers how place, community, and environment informed both subject matter and technique, resulting in paintings that are at once regionally grounded and central to the broader narrative of American art.  

Dr. J. Douglas Nisbet Rhode Island Acadamy of Wine, Providence, RI