Westerly: Misquamicut Fire District Beach

The coastal landscape around Westerly is defined by the Pawcatuck River and the nearby Atlantic shoreline, which has shaped both the urban form and local economy. The river forms the border with Connecticut and once powered mills; downtown Westerly developed on its Rhode Island bank, opposite Pawcatuck. Granite quarrying also left a lasting local legacy, with Westerly granite used for monuments and civic buildings far beyond the state. To the south, Watch Hill and Misquamicut connect the town to Rhode Island’s beach culture, while Watch Hill Lighthouse has marked the approach to Little Narragansett Bay since the 19th century. Browse additional webcams from coastal Rhode Island to extend your view of the Atlantic shore.

Rhode Island has served as a maritime and commercial center within New England since the colonial era. The smallest U.S. state is shaped by Narragansett Bay, whose coves and islands carry the Atlantic far inland. Providence, at the bay’s head, is home to the Rhode Island School of Design and a long-established port tradition. Newport recalls its importance as a seaport through its historic waterfront and the Gilded Age mansions of Bellevue Avenue. The Blackstone River Valley also preserves a strong connection to early American industry, while beaches and coastal communities sustain Rhode Island’s seafaring character. Trace Rhode Island’s place in New England by browsing webcams in the surrounding area.

The Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts define much of the United States — their ports, fisheries and trade routes have long tied the country’s economy to the wider world. Between them, the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains and Mississippi River basin form sharply different regions, from high western ranges to broad agricultural heartlands. Cities carry much of the national story: New York’s Statue of Liberty, a gift from France dedicated in 1886, remains an enduring symbol, while Washington, DC concentrates major federal institutions. Indigenous nations have shaped these lands for millennia, and their living cultures remain essential to the country’s identity. Find related webcams in the surrounding areas to build a fuller picture of the United States.