Lowell National Historical Park

Lowell National Historical Park preserves cotton mills, workers' housing, and a system of canals that wind through downtown. These water channels connected the factories and shaped the layout of the entire industrial district.

The mills began operations in the 1820s as a new model for textile manufacturing in America. Growth was rapid, and the factories soon employed thousands of workers who transformed the region into an industrial center.

Immigrant workers from Europe and Asia who arrived to work in the mills left their mark on the city's neighborhoods and traditions. You can still see how they shaped daily life through the housing, shops, and gathering spaces they created.

You can explore the buildings and canals on your own or join a guided tour to learn more about the site's history. Wear comfortable shoes since there is plenty of ground to cover on foot throughout the area.

Some mills let you operate restored power looms to see firsthand how raw cotton became finished cloth. This hands-on experience reveals how demanding and time-consuming the actual work was for the people who did it.

Location: Lowell

Website: https://nps.gov/lowe

GPS coordinates: 42.63780,-71.31188

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:24