Rhode Island Red Monument

The Rhode Island Red Monument is a stone memorial with a bronze relief tablet depicting a rooster, located in Adamsville near the local baseball field. The work combines natural granite with detailed metalwork to commemorate the famous chicken breed.

The Rhode Island Red breed originated in 1854 when William Tripp crossed Asian roosters from whaling ships with local hens to develop the strain. This breeding effort eventually became so significant that the resulting monument received National Register recognition in 2001, cementing the breed's place in American agricultural history.

The monument honors the chicken breed that shaped Little Compton's identity and shows how central poultry farming was to the town's economy. Visitors can sense the deep connection between the region and its farming roots when viewing this public tribute.

The monument stands at the intersection of Main Street, Adamsville Road, and Old Harbor Road, making it easy to find and accessible year-round. Since it sits at a public intersection, visitors can view it anytime without needing special arrangements or advance planning.

The monument received National Register of Historic Places status in 2001, making it one of the few memorials anywhere dedicated to a chicken breed. This recognition highlights how unusual it is for a farm animal to hold such a formal place in a community's official history.