Wickford, Rhode Island: Narragansett Rune Stone

The Rune Stone is right behind Shayna's Place at 45 Brown Street, North Kingstown. RI. You can park behind the restaurant. Also, there is a rest rooms 30 feet from from the big rock.

The Narragansett Rune Stone recently found its (hopefully) final home in downtown Wickford. Until recently, this piece of Viking graffiti was submerged most hours of the day in Narraganestt Bay, only appearing at the lowest of tides. When it did, however, it would attract sightseeing boaters -- so one of the millionaire seaside landowners, unhappy with boaters ruining his view, snatched up the Stone and hid it. A TV show was to be filmed about the Stone when the crew discovered it was missing.

The state began a criminal investigation (it was on state property), the millionaire fessed up, and the state got the stone for testing. Whether real Viking graffiti or not, the Stone makes a good story and the town hopes the bucks will roll in from Vinland enthusiasts looking for proof of pre-Columbian exploration.

Wickford was also the inspiration for "The Witches of Eastwick." The New-Age store that John Updike used in the novel is still open in the center of the village.