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Treasures Inside the Museum: Season 6 Returns to Rhode Island PBS

New Episodes Highlight Intriguing Finds and Meaningful Stories from the Icon Museum and Study Center to the R.I. State Police Museum

CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND (June 9, 2025) – Treasures Inside the Museum is back for its sixth season, continuing the journey into the hidden backrooms of some of New England’s cherished museums and historic sites. The Boston/New England Emmy-nominated documentary series uncovers personal stories and often overlooked artifacts that bring our region’s history to life.

This season features behind-the-scenes visits to the inspirational Icon Museum and Study Center in Clinton, Massachusetts, where art, history, and spirituality meet. The series also explores the proud legacy and rich history of Rhode Island’s State Police, celebrating 100 years of service to the Ocean State, with stories told from those who proudly wore the badge.

Produced by Ocean State Video and Weathervane Communications, this beloved series provides exclusive access to unique items and stories preserved inside these historic spaces, revealing connections between the past and present.

Treasures series founder and Co-Producer Jim Karpeichik, owner of Ocean State Video, says, “Season 6 of ‘Treasures Inside the Museum’ shines a light onto many hidden museum treasures from our local communities. We are pleased to partner with Rhode Island PBS again to tell meaningful local stories.”

Finding the unexpected in familiar local places is what Season 6 is all about, says Betty-Jo Cugini, Co-Producer of Treasures and owner of Weathervane Communications. “From a one-room schoolhouse in Charlestown, Rhode Island, to one-of-a-kind art treasures in Massachusetts and a working piece of nostalgia at the Rhode Island State Police Museum – you never know what you’ll find or story you will uncover.”

Produced in collaboration with Rhode Island PBS, Treasures Inside the Museum, Season 6, premieres on Friday, June 20, at 8:30 p.m. and encores on Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. The series can be streamed online at ripbs.org and YouTube.

Rhode Island PBS members can access Season 6 and previous seasons, along with other quality PBS programming, at ripbs.org/passport

Episode 6: Rhode Island State Police Museum /H2 Design
Friday, August 1, 2025, 8:30 pm
Saturday, August 2, 2025, 12:30 pm

Lt. Kenneth Bowman, Ret | Update: RI State Police Museum

Guest Bowman is a dedicated member of RI State Police Museum. He brings us up to date on what has taken place over the past couple of years in so far as the Museum itself and it also has become an educational setting for the public as well as RI State Police. He also shares with us via photos what has been added to the museum, changes in dress and tools, and some historical acknowledgements. Lastly he shares a historical book which has been recently published by many contributors who have lived their lives as RI State Police, both males and females. This book is now available to the public.

Vintage Cruiser Show Flyer

Special Visitor at the Museum Last Week!

Harlen wrote a review on the Netflix movie “Rescued by Ruby”. Harlen and his family visited the Museum and presented the review to Sgt. Dan O’Neil.

Harlen was presented with a 2022 Christmas ornament depicting the K9’s who had passed away during that year. He also received a Ruby challenge coin where half the proceeds are donated to the RISCPA and an Army bear donated by Ira Green of Providence.

North Scituate Farmers Market

The Rhode Island State Police Museum and Educational Center will be attending the North Scituate Farmers Market on the following dates:

Saturday, May 11^th
Saturday, June 8^th
Saturday, July 20^th
Saturday, August 24^th
Saturday, September 21^st

We will have information about the Museum and will be selling our merchandise. Trooper Boots will be coming with us!
Come down and say “Hello!”

Ruby’s Bench

Sergeant Daniel S. O’Neil is the President of the R.I. State Police Museum and Educational Center and a canine handler with the R.I. State Police. In 2011 K-9 Ruby was rescued by the R.I. State Police from the RISPCA after she had been adopted and returned five times. She was then assigned to Corporal O’Neil. Ruby was successfully trained in search and rescue and cadaver search. In 2017, following an extensive search, Corporal O’Neil and Ruby located a lost adolescent boy in the woods of Glocester, Rhode Island. Corporal O’Neil later discovered that the lost boy was the son of one of the volunteers at the RISPCA, who helped care for and train Ruby while she was there. This inspiring story earned Ruby the national title of “Search and Rescue Hero Dog” in 2018. The story then became a hit Netflix original movie, “Rescued by Ruby.” Sadly, Ruby passed away in May 2022.

On the first anniversary of Ruby’s passing, a ceremony was held at the end of Ives Road in Warwick, overlooking Sandy Point Beach. Sergeant O’Neil’s neighbors and friends raised money to pay for a bench and its installation in honor of the O’Neil family and K-9 Ruby. The plaque on the bench reads, “Dedicated to Corporal Daniel O’Neil and Family in Memory of K-9 Ruby—Badge #9223, R.I. State Police Search and Rescue.”

Sergeant O’Neil continues to serve in the Rhode Island State Police K-9 Unit with K-9 Koda, who was also rescued from the RISPCA.

Celebrating Police Memorial Week

The Museum and Educational Center was proud to host representatives from “SDPD Honor Roll” during Police Memorial Week 2023. Sgt. Michael Pidgeon and Chaplain Chuck Price held a ceremony at the Rhode Island State Police Memorial located at Headquarters. They presented the Museum with a plaque honoring the service and sacrifice of those officers who have died in the line-of-duty. They travelled from San Diego to Washington, DC, and on their way back to San Diego, made stops at several law enforcement memorials. Check out their specialty vehicle and the history of SDPD Honor Roll on their website sdpdhonor1.us.

Members of the Providence Bruins Visits the Museum

The Rhode Island State Police Museum and Educational Center had some special visitors on Thursday, March 9, 2023. Members of the Providence Bruins, Kai Wissmann 3, Michael Callahan 23, and Josiah Didier 44, came to the Museum to learn a bit about the history of the Rhode Island State Police in celebration of First Responders’ Weekend, which featured the Rhode Island State Police hockey team vs North Smithfield Police & Fire hockey team immediately following the P Bruins game on Saturday, March 11^th. We are pleased to report that the P Bruins defeated the Hershey Bears 3-2 and the Rhode Island State Police team scored a victory of 4 -1 over North Smithfield.

P Bruins getting a history lesson from Ret. Lt. Ken Bowman

Mugs shots taken! Happily, they were released after the tour!

Rhode Island State Police Santa at the Museum 12-4

Cpl. Dan O’Neil and Koda drop off toys at the South County Dept. of Human Services.

Det. Christopher D’Angelo dropped off a gift card, toys and books to the Boys & Girls Club of Newport County.

Barbara Laird visited Jessica DiMartino of the Town of Exeter Department of Social Services and dropped off clothing and toys.

Caden

Grand Prize Winner - Zoe

Second Prize Winner - Gavin

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Recent News

Museum President, Sgt. Dan O’Neil is shown with Randy Burt Jr., from Tree of Life Chainsaw Carvings in Burrillville. Mr. Burt donated these two K-9s to protect our Rhode Island State Police Museum!

Check out their Facebook page.

Members of the Rhode Island State Police Museum Foundation Executive Board recently visited the Massachusetts State Police Museum and Learning Center to see their new facility. We would like to thank them for the tour as well as the time they spent with us sharing information and resources. Our new Rhode Island State Police trooper bear also enjoyed many of the displays. The bear will be available to purchase soon, but the bear needs a name! We will be taking suggestions to name the trooper bear at the upcoming Vintage Cruiser Show on Sunday, September 18thfrom 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at State Police Headquarters, 311 Danielson Pike, North Scituate. Please come and enjoy the cruiser show and help us decide on a name for our new bear.

Massachusetts State Police Museum and Learning Center www.mspmlc.org