Once you've visited, you'll think twice about calling Rhode Island “little.” Facts are facts: Rhode Island is the smallest state not only in New England but in the entire United States. But this petite place is feisty. Did you know that Rhode Island declared its independence from Great Britain on May 4, 1776, two months before the Declaration of Independence was signed? And it is practically bursting at the seams with scenic, historic, and cultural wonders. Rhode Island may be compact, but it is home to an incredible 20 percent of the country's National Historic Landmarks.