Bigelow Carpet Mill

The Bigelow Carpet Mill is a large brick factory complex in Clinton, Massachusetts, consisting of six main buildings ranging from two to five stories high. The site spans approximately 9.5 acres and features Italianate architectural details including round-arch windows, decorative brickwork, and distinctive towers that give the structures a castle-like appearance.

The mill was founded in 1847 and became one of the first factories worldwide to use machines for carpet production, revolutionizing the industry and making carpets affordable for more people. Brothers Erastus and Horatio Bigelow developed patented innovations that led to producing Brussels tapestry carpets starting in 1849, with the company expanding continuously through the 1880s before closing during the 1930s.

The mill is not open for interior tours today but can be viewed from outside along Union Street, Pleasant Street, and School Street, where the brick architecture and towers are visible. The complex is now used as headquarters by a medical device company, so access remains limited to viewing the exterior and surrounding grounds.

Carpets produced at this factory were installed in prestigious locations such as the White House, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and even the Titanic, demonstrating the renowned quality of their production. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978, the mill now serves as headquarters for a medical device company, showing how industrial spaces adapt to new purposes while preserving their historical significance.

• Location: Clinton
• GPS coordinates: 42.41528,-71.68611
• Latest update: February 9, 2026 08:21