Lowell is one of the largest cities in the state of Massachusetts, and it has many historic sites that help tell its story. The fact that Lowell sits along the Merrimack River is a big part of why this city made history. The river provided power to the many mills and factories that industrialists built in the area, and these are the reason that Lowell became the model for industrial success. Here are some of the historic sites in Lowell worth visiting.
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Lowell National Historic Park
Lowell National Historic Park is home to several historic locations. A walk through the area brings visitors back to the industrial area and includes the canals that Lowell is famous for and the Mill Girls Exhibit which gives viewers an inside look into the Mill Girls of Lowell. You can stroll along the canals at this historic park and even explore the Immigrants boardinghouse. The parks visitors center has information about the area and a free self-guided tour.
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Boott Cotton Mills Museum
The Boott Cotton Mills complex once housed several of the mills that used the power of the Merrimack to run the machines that produced textiles and other materials. Visitors can now visit the museum in the mill to see the weave room which still has two working looms. The workers use these to produce fabric that you can buy in the gift shop. You can take a guided tour of the museum and learn about how Lowell was an important part of the industrial revolution and in American history.
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Lowell Cemetery
Lowell Cemetery is a popular spot for visitors. In the 1940s people visited the cemetery as a way to escape the crowded city streets and the rooming houses, and even now the cemetery remains a tranquil spot where you can go to relax. As you wander through the cemetery, you can see elegant old gravestones and landscapes that look just like they did in the 1940s. In the warmer months, you can take one of Dick Howe’s cemetery tours to get a better feel for the historic Lowell citizens buried there. Many of the stones have stories that Dick will tell you as you walk through.
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Whistler House Museum of Art
The Whistler House Museum of Art is more than just an art exhibit. The house itself is the birthplace of James McNeill Whistler, a premier New England artist, and it is also the home of Paul Moody, who invented the power loom. James Whistler’s father worked on the Lowell canals and aqueducts and also worked on locomotives in Lowell. In 1908, the Lowell Art Association purchased the Whistler House and established the museum and historic site. It now houses a permanent collection of Whistler’s art along with pieces from other well-known artists.
Lowell is a small city, but an important one in American history. It was the center of the Industrial Revolution, and many of the historic sites in the city help visitors to learn about mill life in the 1800s.
Image via Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection | Licensed under CC BY 2.0
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