A little after noon on Thursday, June 17, a small crowd assembled for the unveiling of a historical marker, prominently set at the entrance to Mount Hope Farm, that is at once brand new, yet 400 years in the making.

It honors the Pokanoket people and acknowledges that Mount Hope Farm, and indeed, the entire region, is the ancestral land of the Pokanoket nation. Historian David Weed of the Sowams Heritage Area used the analogy of the Acropilis in Athens — a place we all know of — whose history “only” goes back 3000 years. “The Pokanoket have been here for 10,000 years,” he said. “This is what we need to teach people.”

Po Pummukoank Anogqs, Tracey Brown, Sachem of the Pokanoket Tribe of the Pokanoket Nation, said, “Thank you and I welcome each and every one of you to the ancestral lands of the Pokanoket, and I give honor to our ancestors who have been and still are the caretakers of the land. We always extend the hand of friendship and peace, we are so honored and please to have this here.”

Sagamore Po Wauipi Neimquag, William Guy, the Sagamore of the Pokanoket Nation joined her and together they revealed the marker; both were clearly pleased by the reveal.

“That is beautiful,” said the Sagamore. “It’s been an honor. Those that walked before us would be proud to see this here.”

Take it all in with new app

The Farm is pleased to announce the release of a new self-guided walking tour app for smartphones. The free, GPS-enabled app, developed by members of the Farm’s Board of Trustees, provides an immersive way to experience the Farm’s forested trails, rich history, native wildlife, preserved buildings, lush gardens, waterfront panoramas, and family favorites: the resident chickens, miniature donkeys, and Nigerian Dwarf goats.

“After seeking to develop a walkingn tour a year ago, we are thrilled that our vision has become a reality,” says Brenda Turchetta, Secretary, Board of Trustees at Mount Hope Farm. “Thanks to the grant offered through Commerce RI, we were able to fund this project, allowing us to share the magical history and current initiatives of Mount Hope Farm with the community.”

Funding for the app was provided by the Take It Outside grant program. Mount Hope Farm worked with Action Tour Guide in Barrington in conjunction with Watrous Brothers Productions in Warren to develop the new app.

The app is like having a professional tour guide in your pocket with the convenience of going at your own pace. “Pins'' mark locations when users can hear professionally narrated stories about everything from the Pokanoket to the colonists who settled here, King Philip's War and the land’s role during the Revolutionary War. Pins highlight the historic Governor Bradford House where guests can book overnight stays and places users can look for wildlife, take in captivating views, explore Mount Hope Farm’s Accredited Arboretum and learn more about the Growing4Good Garden which produces more than 2,000 pounds of produce for the East Bay Food Pantry annually.

“This tour app wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless work and dedication of members of our Board of Trustees, particularly Brenda Turchetta, Audrey Field and Catherine Murray,” says Mount Hope Farm’s Executive Director Sheri St. Germain. “We’re overjoyed to be welcoming visitors back to the Farm and providing them with this outstanding resource.”

The Mount Hope Farm mobile free app is available now and can be downloaded by searching “Mount Hope Farm” at the Apple App store or Google Play.