View source for Lowell National Historical Park

{{Short description|National park in Massachusetts, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Lowell National Historical Park
| photo = Boott_mill_rooftop_view.jpg
| photo_caption = The Boott Cotton Mill & Museum
| map = Massachusetts#USA 
| relief = 1 
| map_caption = 
| location = [[Lowell, Massachusetts]], United States
| nearest_city = [[Lowell, Massachusetts]]
| coordinates = {{coord|42|38|48|N|71|18|37|W|region:US|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref = 
| area_acre = 141
| established = June 5, 1978
| visitation_num = 520,452
| visitation_year = 2011
| visitation_ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics |publisher=National Park Service |url=https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSReports/Park%20Specific%20Reports/Annual%20Park%20Visitation%20(All%20Years)?Park=LOWE |access-date=October 6, 2012}}</ref>
| governing_body = [[National Park Service]]
| website = [https://www.nps.gov/lowe/index.htm Lowell National Historical Park]
}}

[[File:Lowell National Historical Park Official Map.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Official Map of the Lowell National Historical Park]]

'''Lowell National Historical Park''' is a [[National Historical Park]] of the United States located in [[Lowell, Massachusetts]]. Established in 1978 a few years after [[Lowell Heritage State Park]], it is operated by the [[National Park Service]] and comprises a group of different sites in and around the city of Lowell related to the era of [[textile]] manufacturing in the city during the [[Industrial Revolution]].  In 2019, the park was included as Massachusetts' representative in the [[America the Beautiful Quarters]] series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usquarters.org/lowell-america-the-beautiful-quarter/ |title=LOWELL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK QUARTER |publisher=[[US Quarters]] |date= January 2014 |access-date=June 25, 2015}}</ref>

==History==
:''See the [[History of Lowell, Massachusetts]] article for a detailed history of the city''

First settled by Europeans in the 17th century, East Chelmsford (later renamed Lowell in honor of the founders' deceased business partner) became an important manufacturing center along the [[Merrimack River]] in the early 1820s. It was seen as an attractive site for the construction of a planned industrial city, with the [[Middlesex Canal]] (completed in 1803) linking the Merrimack to the [[Charles River]], which flows through [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], and with the powerful 32' Pawtucket Falls.  The already existent [[Pawtucket Canal]], designed for transportation around the [[Pawtucket Falls (Massachusetts)|Pawtucket Falls]] on the Merrimack, became the feeder canal for a 5.6-mile long system of power canals based around the falls. Unlike many other mill towns, however, Lowell's manufacturing facilities were built based on a ''planned community'' design. Specifically Lowell was planned as reaction to the mill communities in [[United Kingdom|Great Britain]], which were perceived as cramped and inhumane. Some called it the "Lowell Experiment", which was an attempt at creating a manufacturing center with a combination of production efficiency with democratic morals and social structure.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Lowell experiment : public history in a postindustrial city|last=Cathy.|first=Stanton|date=2006|publisher=University of Massachusetts Press|isbn=1558495460|location=Amherst|oclc=63297733}}</ref>

Initially the factories of Lowell were built with ample green space and accompanying clean dormitories, in a style that anticipated such later [[architecture|architectural]] trends as the [[City Beautiful movement]] in the 1890s.  Lowell attracted both [[History of Lowell, Massachusetts#Immigration|immigrants]] from abroad and migrants from within [[New England]] and [[Quebec]] (including a large proportion of young women, known as [[Lowell mill girls]]) who lived in the dormitories and worked in the mills.

The textile industry in New England experienced a sharp decline after World War II and by the 1960s, many of the Lowell's [[textile mill]] buildings were abandoned.  In the late 1960s and early 1970s, several important forces came together from which emerged the Lowell National Historical Park. Congressman F. Bradford Morse assisted in the city's selection for "Model Cities" status; Brendan Fleming, UMass Lowell (UML) Math Department faculty member, after his election to the Lowell City Council proposed the first Historic District "The Mill and Canal District" which was approved in 1972; Gordon Marker, executive director of Model Cities and an urban planner, was  instrumental in designing the concept for an Urban Park based on Historic Preservation and Economic Revitalization; Patrick Mogan, Education Administrator and later Superintendent of Schools, was primarily interested in Lowell's children and strongly advocated the preservation and sharing of their cultural experiences; and the Lowell Historical Society which opened the Lowell Museum in 1976.  Together these circles of interest became a collaborating force led by [[United States Senator]] and Lowell native [[Paul Tsongas]] to enact legislation for a national park.  In 1978, the [[United States Congress]] established the Lowell National Historical Park, the [[Lowell Historic Preservation District]], and the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission.

In 1990, [[The Trust for Public Land]] assisted the National Park Service in acquiring 3 acres for the purpose of housing the headquarters for the Lowell National Historical Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tpl.org/media-room/hassanamesitt-woods-protection-moves-forward-ma#sm.000001tw1n9rvrfo8u6y3v8zmk5xa|title=Lowell National Historical Park|website=The Trust for Public Land}}</ref>

==Legislative history of Lowell==
Lowell National Historic Park was established by the Lowell Establishment Act in 1978. Lowell National Historical Park was established due to its significant cultural and historical sites and structures. This significance of these cultural and historical sites and structures symbolized aspects of the Industrial Revolution. Lowell is also represented to be the most significant planned industrialized city in the United States, which is a very important historical aspect in United States history. Another factor is that the immigration of different ethnic groups during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century was represented in Lowell's neighborhoods. Preserving this area of land would allow for these representations to still be preserved in Lowell's neighborhoods. Even though the city of Lowell had a large budget for cultural and historical preservation, they would still need the assistance of the federal government to ensure that all necessary early buildings and structures were preserved. The extra protection and funding by the federal government will allow for the preservation of these lands. By establishing Lowell as a National Park that is protected by the federal government, the history and significance of the Industrial Revolution, as well as cultural aspects would be preserved and shared with present and future generations.

In 2012, The Lowell National Historical Park Land Exchange Act of 2012 was added to the original legislation to allow for land within park boundaries to be exchanged with land owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the city of Lowell, or the University of Massachusetts building authority. Lowell National Historic Park is an originally established park and did not replace a previously established site.

== Administrative history of Lowell ==
Chronological order of superintendents:
* Lewis S. Albert: 1978–1980
* James L. Brown: 1980–1981
* John J. Burchill: 1981–1984
* Lawrence D. Gall: 1984-1984
* Chrysandra "Sandy" L. Walter: 1984–1992
* Rich Rambur: 1993–1999
* Patrick McCrary: 1999–2005
* Michael Creasey: 2005–2012
* Peter Aucella: 2012–2012
* Celeste Bernardo: 2012–present

Regional affiliation in chronological order
* North Atlantic Region: 1978–1995
* Northeast Region: 1995–2018
* Northeast Atlantic-Appalachian Region: 2018–present

==Park information==
{{Lowell trolley}}
Among the notable features of the park are:
* [[Boott Mills|Boott Cotton Mill and Museum]]
* The Francis Gate
* [[Lowell Power Canal System and Pawtucket Gatehouse|Pawtucket Dam and Gatehouse]]
* [[Wannalancit Mills|Suffolk Mill Turbine and Powerhouse]]
* Kirk Street Agents House
* Mill Girls and Immigrants Boardinghouse
* The Lowell Canal System
* Swamp Locks, Lower Locks, Guard Locks
* Merrimack River and Northern Canal Walkway
* [[Worthen House (Lowell, Massachusetts)|The Worthen House]]
* [[National Streetcar Museum]] and the associated trolley service, which runs through the park 
* Boarding House Park, which hosts the [[Lowell Folk Festival]] and the Lowell Summer Music Series.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/globelocal/2019/07/18/lowell-folk-festival-melting-pot-cultures/oXYb5VeFXW9audt0GllyrM/story.html|title=Lowell Folk Festival offers a melting pot of cultures|last1=Khan|first1=Maysoon|publisher=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=July 18, 2019|accessdate=August 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lowellsun.com/2021/08/01/lowell-summer-music-series-returns-in-style/|title=Lowell Summer Music Series returns in style|last1=Hanna|first1=Ed|publisher=[[The Sun (Lowell)|The Lowell Sun]]|date=August 1, 2021|accessdate=August 29, 2021}}</ref>

The park includes a visitor center, as well as many restored and unrestored sites from the 19th century. The visitor center provides a free self-guided tour of the history of Lowell, including display exhibits such as the [[patent]] model of a [[loom]] by local inventor S. Thomas.

A footpath along the [[Merrimack Canal]] from the visitor center is lined with plaques describing the importance of various existing and former sites along the canal. The [[Boott Mills]] along the Merrimack River, on the Eastern Canal, is the most fully restored manufacturing site in the district, and one of the oldest.  The Boott Mill provides a walk-through museum with living recreations of the textile manufacturing process in the 19th century. The walking tour includes a detour to a memorial to local author [[Jack Kerouac]], who described the mid-20th century declined state of Lowell in several of his books. A walkway along the river leads to several additional unrestored mill sites, providing views of restored and unrestored [[Mill race|canal raceways]] once used by the mills.  Additionally, the park includes the Patrick J Mogan Cultural Center, which focuses on the lives of Lowell's many generations of immigrants.  Other exhibits include a working [[streetcar]] line,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heritagetrolley.org/existLowell.htm |title=APTA Streetcar and Heritage Trolley Site - Lowell, Massachusetts |publisher=[[American Public Transportation Association]] and the Seashore Trolley Museum |date=February 2013 |access-date=August 23, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railwaypreservation.com/vintagetrolley/lowell.htm |title=U.S. Streetcar Systems- Massachusetts Lowell |website=U.S. Streetcar Systems Website |publisher=RPR Inc. |date=November 23, 2011 |access-date=August 23, 2014}}</ref> canal boat tours exploring some of the city's [[gatehouse (waterworks)|gatehouse]]s and locks, and the River Transformed / Suffolk Mill Turbine Exhibit, which shows how water power, the [[Francis Turbine]], ran Lowell's textile factories.

==Photo gallery==
<gallery>
File:U.S. President Carter signs creation of Lowell National Historical Park (1978).jpg|U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]] (center) with [[Ted Kennedy]] (left) and [[Paul Tsongas]] signs the creation of Lowell National Historical Park, 1978
File:Boott_cotton_mill_looms.jpg|Authentic Looms in the Boott Cotton Mill and Museum
File:Front_of_boott_mill.jpg|The Boott Cotton Mill and Museum and Park Trolley
File:Lowell_boat_tour.jpg|The Park offers boat tours of the historic Lowell Canal System
File:suffolk mill turbine exhibit.jpg|The River Transformed Exhibit at the Wannalancit Mill
File:Lowell Park HQ.jpg|Park Headquarters, Paige Street
File:From Turbine to Line Shaft.webm|From turbine to line shaft at Suffolk Mills, part of the River Transformed Exhibit
File:From line shaft to power looms.ogv|From line shaft to power looms at Boott Mills
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Society for the Establishment of Useful Manufactures]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lowell, Massachusetts]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Lowell National Historical Park|<br/>Lowell National Historical Park}}
* [https://www.nps.gov/lowe/index.htm  Official '''Lowell National Historical Park''' website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090830202618/http://www.nps.gov/lowe/parkmgmt/upload/Partner%20Report%2009%20spreads%20lo-res.pdf Lowell National Historical Park 2009 Annual Report]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090513214512/http://www.nps.gov/lowe/parkmgmt/upload/Heritage%20Preservation%20and%20Development%20White%20Paper%20A.pdf Heritage Preservation and Development White Paper:  A 30 Year Assessment of Lowell National Historical Park]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080828041556/http://nps.gov/lowe/parkmgmt/upload/Presentation%20of%20Lowell%20Stories%20White%20Paper%20A.pdf Presentation of Lowell Stories White Paper:  A 30 Year Assessment of Interpretation and Education at Lowell National Historical Park]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070625080841/http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/21boott/21boott.htm ''Building America's Industrial Revolution: The Boott Cotton Mills of Lowell, Massachusetts,'' a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110418053603/http://www.cathystanton.net/lowell-exp.html ''The Lowell Experiment:  Public History in a Postindustrial City'' by Cathy Stanton (ethnographic study of the work of Lowell NHP)]
* [https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442236288/Mill-Power-The-Origin-and-Impact-of-Lowell-National-Historical-Park ''Mill Power: The Origin and Impact of Lowell National Historical Park'' by Paul Marion 2014]

{{National Historical Parks of the United States}}
{{textile museums}}
{{Protected areas of Massachusetts}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts}}
{{National Park Travelers Club Conventions}}
{{USLightRail}}
{{Heritage Streetcars}}
{{Streetcar Museums}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:National Historical Parks in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Parks in Middlesex County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Museums in Lowell, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Industry museums in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Textile museums in the United States]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Lowell, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Lowell, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1978]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Lowell, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Cotton mills in the United States]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:National historical parks of the United States]]