Visitor's Guide to Lowell National Historical Park

In the mid-1800s, with the Industrial Revolution in full swing, mill towns flourished across America - particularly along the rivers in New England, where water power was being harnessed to run the giant factories. Lowell, Massachusetts was typical of this era, with massive brick factories constructed along a five-and-a-half mile system of canals. A great influx of workers moved to the region in search of employment, including large groups of French Canadians. For the first time in American history, women entered the workforce in large numbers, and the "mill girls" became a cultural and commercial force in society.

A century later, the textile industry had largely abandoned the northeastern United States. Cheaper labor was available in other regions of the country, or overseas. The population of cities like Lowell plummeted, and the hulking brick factory buildings were left to crumble in decay. Some cities never recovered. But Lowell decided to turn its history into its future. A local schoolteacher led the effort to convert the mills into a historical park that preserved the city's heritage while celebrating its past.

The Lowell National Historical Park was established in 1978, and for over 30 years it has educated residents and visitors of the unique place that mill towns like Lowell played in the development of the American workforce.

The national park is a series of buildings and sites in the center of Lowell. It includes renovated factories, the intricate canal system, and a cultural center. The centerpiece of the park is the restored Boott Mill. The cotton mill is an example of the factory system that was largely invented here. Raw cotton was brought into the mill, and step-by-step, was turned into finished fabric. Each step in the process was overseen by a separate team of specialized workers, who then passed it along to others for the next phase of production. While it seems only logical today, the factory process was a cutting-edge innovation in its day.

The Boott Cotton Mill Museum includes interactive and video exhibits, as well as a working loom in the 1920s era weave room. The museum store is located here, where visitors can actually take home cloth that is produced in the weave room exhibit. The building is also an example of the preservation efforts in Lowell. Unlike the fate of factories in other New England cities, which were razed by fire or wrecking ball, parts of the Boott Mill have been adapted as apartments, condos and offices.

Another highlight of the Lowell National Historical Park is the Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center, named for the local teacher who originally pushed for preserving the city's industrial heritage. Here, visitors will learn the stories of the people behind the industrial revolution in New England. The Mill Girls and Immigrants Exhibit puts these two important groups into historical context. It explores the role of women in the workforce, retelling the stories of young, single women who migrated to cities like Lowell and found self-worth and independence. The Cultural Center also tells the story of immigrant workers - many of them Canadian - and their struggle to preserve their culture while assimilating into the American melting pot.

The Lowell National Historical Park is located in downtown Lowell, Massachusetts. Your visit should begin at the Visitor's Center at 304 Dutton Street. The park is open daily year round. National Park Service rangers are on site to answer questions and conduct educational programs. Guided tours on various themes are offered daily at no charge. There is an admission fee for the Boott Cotton Mill Museum and the summer canal tours. Discounts are offered for students and seniors.