Textiles Anyone?

Lowell ~ Massachusetts

We are all for visiting and supporting our National Park system ~ so we got up early and headed for the town of Lowell to check out Lowell National Park. I never knew there was a park there even though I knew about the town. The park has several places you can go and visit including a ride on a trolley and a boat ride down the canals to a lock you will pass through and down to the river.

Boott Cotten Mills Museum

The History of Lowell is closely tied to its location along the Pawtucket Falls of the Merrimack River, from being an important fishing ground for the Pennacook tribe to providing water power for the factories that formed the basis of the city's economy for a century. The city of Lowell was started in the 1820s as a money-making venture and social project referred to as "The Lowell Experiment", and quickly became America's largest textile center. However, within approximately a century, the decline and collapse of that industry in New England placed the city into a deep recession. Lowell's "rebirth", partially tied to Lowell National Historical Park, has made it a model for other former industrial towns, although the city continues to struggle with deindustrialization and suburbanization.

Massachusetts Mills

Trolleys played an important roll in the early days ~ Getting the workers to & from the factories

Trolley Tour

The canal system allowed transportation around Pawtucket Falls and was also a part of the power canal system ~ which provided power to the mills.
 

River Ride down the Pawtucket Canal to Pawtucket River Dam

This was a thriving textile area and in the the late 19th century, the city's industrial prominence was fading ~ A brief resurgence during World War II led to renewed hiring and  production ~ but by the mid 1950's the last of the original mills closed down and only a few smaller textile producers remained.  It was very interesting learning about the history of Textiles in Lowell, Massachusetts and as always I loved getting another stamp for my National Park Passport Book.

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!