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Rhode Island played a central role in the story of the Franco-American alliance during the American Revolution. In July 1780, French forces under the command of General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, arrived in Newport, Rhode Island, to support the American cause. For nearly a year, French troops were encamped in and around Newport while coordinating strategy with General George Washington and the Continental Army. Today, historic sites across Rhode Island preserve places connected to the arrival of the French army, the development of the Franco-American alliance, and the beginning of the campaign commemorated by the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. State and Local Historic SitesThese sites interpret the arrival of the French army in Newport in 1780 and the development of the Franco-American alliance during the American Revolution. Museums and Cultural AttractionsMuseums and cultural institutions across Rhode Island preserve artifacts and stories from the Revolutionary War and the allied campaign commemorated by the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. Newport Historical Society |
Last updated: March 20, 2026