Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park

Slater Mill, long considered the birthplace of the American textile industry, has been a museum for more than a century. This event honors the mill's textile roots and tradition of celebrating craftspeople. 

Join us for a crafternoon with local makers as we enjoy the beginning of autumn. Celebrate the enduring arts of handicraft and take a mill tour to see how thread is made. You are welcome to bring something you're working on, learn from other crafters, or contribute to a group embroidery project. The park will have a few hand looms, drop spindles, coloring sheets, and good vibes. Stitchers, knitters, crocheters, and spinners are all welcome to drop in anytime during the afternoon. 

Free guided tours of Slater Mill will take place at 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM. 

Celebrate the start of Bat Week 2026 during an evening program at River Bend Farm (287 Oak Street, Uxbridge, MA). Rangers will offer a bat walk and a free activity. 

More about Bat Week:

Bat Week is an international, annual celebration designed to raise awareness about the need for bat conservation. Bats are amazing creatures that are vital to the health of our natural world and economy. Although we may not always see them, bats are hard at work all around the world each night - eating tons of insects, pollinating flowers, and spreading seeds that grow new plants and trees. 

Experience Archaeology Month at Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park!

Learn about the archaeological digs that have taken place at Old Slater Mill and see artifacts courtesy of the Slater Industrial Archives. Watch footage of archaeologists working on the site, try hands-on activities, and conduct a search for small treasures. 

In addition to drop-in offerings, mill tours will be available at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:30 PM, free of charge. 

Join a Park Ranger as we discuss the "Remaking of the Landscape" around Slater Mill.

Old Slater Mill, America's first cotton-spinning mill, still stands along the Blackstone River, a reminder of Pawtucket's industrial past. But the landscape that surrounds the mill has been remade numerous times over the last 233 years of the mill's existence. On this tour we will use historic photographs, maps, and archeological findings to discover how this landscape has evolved from a rural landscape, to an industrial center, to a landscape marked by the effects of Urban Renewal.

Meet outside of the Old Slater Mill (67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI), 

Adin Ballou and William Francis Draper were both from Hopedale, MA. During the American Civil War, one was an ardent pacifist while the other served in the Union Army. Most who lived in Hopedale at the time of the Civil War fell somewhere between pacifism and fighting. In this program, we will investigate how the Civil War created a complex dilemma for those living in the Hopedale Community at the time of the war. How did a community of ardent abolitionists and pacifists navigate the Civil War?