Tour this collection of Web resources to find out what you need to know before you go to Block Island. And don’t let the references to New Shoreham disorient you; that’s the island’s official town name.

Go to

About the island and its people | Conservation help | Visitors’ resources | What’s happening | Getting there |Maps

Community profile: http://www.riedc.com/riedc/ri_databank/31/285/

Learn about Block Island’s history, find out about its demographics and access U.S. Census statistics. Compiled by the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation.

Municipal government: http://www.muni-info.state.ri.us/MAfiles/dnsho.pdf

Get names and find out how to contact officials and departments in New Shoreham, including the Town Council, the School Committee, the Police and Fire Departments and more.

The town: http://www.town.new-shoreham.ri.us/
The town of New Shoreham's official site, still under construction.

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/rhodeisland/
The Nature Conservancy, an international land conservation group with offices in Providence and Block Island, has raised tens of millions of dollars to buy and protect land in Rhode Island. It also hosts the state Land Trust Council.

http://www.asri.org/refuges.htm
The Audubon Society of Rhode Island manages more than 9,500 acres of wildlife refuges in Rhode Island, including the Lewis-Dickens Farm on Block Island, and does advocacy work on behalf of land conservation.

http://northeast.fws.gov/ri/rirc.htm
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service manages a growing refuge system across southern Rhode Island and Block Island. Find out which refuges are on its list, and visit a page dedicated to the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, at: http://www.fws.gov/blockisland/

http://www.rilandtrust.org
The Rhode Island Land Trust Council, a statewide consortium of trusts, is developing its Web site, which provides some fast facts about the council and contact information.

http://www.growsmartri.com
Grow Smart Rhode Island is a statewide organization that works to strengthen city centers and reduce sprawl.

Block Island Chamber of Commerce
http://www.blockislandchamber.com/
Search for information on accommodations, dining, recreation, general services and more, from the Block Island Chamber of Commerce.

Tourism information
http://www.blockislandinfo.com/
Get ideas on what to do on the island, from a sample itinerary to holding group events, from the Block Island Tourism Council.

Calendar of events
http://www.blockislandchamber.com/events.html

Browse events on the island for the coming year, by month, compiled by the Block Island Chamber of Commerce.

Local news
http://www.blockislandtimes.com/
Check on news of the island from the digital edition of The Block Island Times, published weekly year-round.

Ferry services

http://www.blockislandferry.com/
Interstate Navigation runs ferries year-round between Block Island and Point Judith, and a seasonal service from Newport.

http://www.islandhighspeedferry.com/
Island Hi-Speed Ferry provides catamaran service between the port of Galilee and Block Island.

http://goblockisland.com
Block Island Express provides high-speed service between Block Island and New London, Conn.

Air service
Block Island Airport
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KBID
Find pilot information, airport specifications and more at this site.

Westerly Airport
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KWST
Find pilot information, airport specifications and more at this site.

Airlines
http://users.ids.net/flybi/nea/
New England Airlines flies year-round from Westerly Airport.

Train service

http://amtrak.com
An easy connection is available from Amtrak’s New London station to the ferry. Cab connections are available to the Westerly Airport from Westerly station, and to Galilee ferry service from the Kingston station.

Bus service
http://www.ripta.com/
Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (800-244-0444) operates buses to the Point Judith ferry.

Visitors' guide map, with roadways, trails, attractions, beaches

Shore points' map, depicting public access routes

Graphic: Preserved land on Block Island

Graphic: Block Island, a jewel 40,000 years in the making