Lowell National Historical Park

06/11/2026

Lowell National Historical Park and the Tsongas Industrial History Center welcome you to "Hands‑On History," part of the City of Lowell’s Bicentennial celebrations and the Tsongas Industrial History Center’s 35th anniversary.

This Saturday, June 13, we will offer two Hands on History workshops: Working on the Line and Weaving. Try weaving on one of our hand looms that work well for all ages. Then, jump into a fun assembly line activity and work with others to keep pace with the hustle and bustle of factory life! Drop in to the Boott Cotton Mills Museum between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to experience history by doing.

Working on the Line Workshops begin at 1 p.m. Sessions will take place every half hour, with the last one starting at 3:30 p.m. Each session has a maximum of 28 participants, first-come, first-serve.

Hands‑On History activities will take place on the second Saturday of each month through October. Check back for more opportunities in the coming months.

The Tsongas Industrial History Center is an education partnership between the University of Massachusetts Lowell School of Education and the National Park Service at Lowell National Historical Park.



NPS Photo

05/11/2026

The Suffolk Mill and River Transformed Walking Tours have returned to Lowell National Historical Park!

This spring, you can join Lowell National Historical Park for a tour of the Suffolk Mill every day at 2 p.m. These guided tours will take you through historic downtown Lowell or along the riverwalk and into the Suffolk Mill Exhibit. There you will experience the engineering innovations that set Lowell ahead, learn about the mill workers experiences through the ages and discover how one city harnessed the power of a river to become the model for industry in the United States.

This 90-minute tour is free and may require up to 1.5 miles of walking.

To learn more about tour options and how to register, please visit https://www.nps.gov/lowe/planyourvisit/guidedtours.htm.



Machinery (flyball governor) photo: Jim Higgins
NPS Photos

05/07/2026

05/01/2026

Happy International Workers' Day, also known as May Day!

Years before the Haymarket affair in 1886 (learn more about this here: https://www.nps.gov/places/haymarket-martyr-s-monument.htm) and the resulting protests for an eight-hour workday, the women workers in Lowell had long been fighting for better working conditions.

In 1836, 1500-2000 workers went on strike for months to protest pay cuts. Later, in 1845, the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association created a petition with thousands of signatures asking the Massachusetts state legislator to pass a law instituting a 10-hour workday. Through their actions, perseverance, and the knowledge they gained, many of the labor laws we know today were able to come to pass.

You can learn more about these early labor movements by visiting:
https://www.nps.gov/lowe/learn/historyculture/earlystrikes.htm
https://www.nps.gov/lowe/learn/historyculture/lflra.htm



Image: clipping from The Voice of Industry

04/28/2026

Come join us this Saturday, May 2, to kick off the spring season with a canal clean up!

Alongside the Lowell Litter Krewe, we'll be preparing Lowell's waterways for the Points of Light Lantern Celebration. Volunteers can meet at Ecumenical Plaza starting at 9 a.m. and the clean-up will go until 12 p.m.

Water and tools will be provided. We're excited to see you there!


NPS Photo

04/01/2026

The results are in! The champion of this year's Fat Bobbin tournament is . . . Bob N. Weave!!!

If you like in the fall, you will love in the spring! Just like those chunky Ursines store fat to survive the winter, our bobbins strive to grow fatter to save them from fitting in the loom shuttle during the busiest textile production of the year.

What does it take to become a Fat Bobbin? Inexperience, inattention, and most of all a heavy foot. Only the thickest bobbins achieve the possible: winding up thread so fully that they will be the last called on to lay the weft.

Competitors for this year's tournament ranged from brand new spindles to rough old-timers. Click through the photos to see their progress!

Do you think Bob N. Weave is the legitimate champion to wear the crown? Come back next year to vote for your favorite Fat Bobbin!

03/23/2026

Come work with us! Lowell National Historical Park is hiring for multiple seasonal positions across the park. From riding the (trolley) rails to boating along the Merrimack River to keeping our park looking pristine for visitors from around the world, there's always work to be done. Are you ready to join our team?

Find out more about the current available positions and how to apply by visiting: https://www.nps.gov/lowe/getinvolved/workwithus.htm.

03/13/2026

Hands‑On History returns tomorrow, Saturday, March 14!

Drop in anytime between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum to experience history by doing!

This month’s activities include two different hands-on workshops. Back by popular demand, try weaving on one of our hand looms that are great for all ages. Then, take on a fun engineering challenge inspired by the innovations of the Industrial Revolution!

Lowell National Historical Park and the Tsongas Industrial History Center are excited to welcome you for Hands‑On History—part of the City of Lowell’s Bicentennial celebrations and the Tsongas Industrial History Center’s 35th anniversary! The Tsongas Industrial History Center is an education partnership between the University of Massachusetts Lowell School of Education and the National Park Service at Lowell National Historical Park.

Hands‑On History activities will take place the second Saturday of each month through October, so check back for more opportunities in the coming months.

02/22/2026

UPDATE: Lowell National Historical Park will be closed Tuesday, February 24th.

Due to winter weather, Lowell National Historical Park will be closed Monday, February 23rd.

For up-to-date information on park operations and hours, visit www.nps.gov/lowe



NPS Collections Photo: Proprietors of Locks and Canals workers outside of their offices on Broadway Street in February of 1898

02/21/2026

As winds down, we’re excited to host one final event tomorrow, February 22, 2026. Join rangers at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum from 10am to 12pm to learn about the textile making process. Try your hand at using a drop spindle and even weave your own piece of cloth on a hand loom.

While Kids Week may be coming to an end, don’t forget to keep an eye on our calendar of events for upcoming workshops and other future hands-on experiences at Lowell National Historical Park.

You can learn more about future park offerings by visiting, https://www.nps.gov/lowe/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.



NPS Photo