Nearly 200 years later, the changes that began here still reverberate in our shifting global economy. Explore Lowell, a living testament to the dynamic human story of the industrial revolution.
Photo: NPS Photo
Lowell National Historical Park
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era.
- LocationLowell, MA
- Entrance No fee listed
- HoursDaily, 9:00AM - 4:00PM
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Weather now71°F Sunny
- Alerts 1 active alert
Overview
Topics
- Canals
- Dams
- Engineering
- Factories
- Floods
- Immigration
- Industry
- Labor Movement
6 more topics
- Laborer and Worker
- Migrant Workers
- Mills
- Science, Technology and Innovation
- Urban America
- Women's History
Alerts (1)
InformationNo Public Morning Trolley Runs on Select Dates Due to scheduled education programs, the trolley will not be offering public runs on the following mornings: 10/13, 10/1… Read more
Due to scheduled education programs, the trolley will not be offering public runs on the following mornings: 10/13, 10/14, 10/15, 10/20, 10/27, 10/28, 10/29, 11/6, 11/12, 11/19, and 11/20
Things to Do
4 experiences from the National Park Service, plus every activity offered in the park. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.
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Become a Lowell Junior Ranger
Participating in the Junior Ranger Program is a fun way for young visitors to get the most out of their visit to Lowell National Historical Park. Free activity books can be picked up at the Boott…
Learn more about Become a Lowell Junior Ranger on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
Earn an Acre Community Ranger Badge
Learn their stories, become a Community Ranger! Community Rangers are neighborhood storytellers and caretakers. Using the free Community Ranger activity book, you can explore the historic Acre…
Learn more about Earn an Acre Community Ranger Badge on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
Explore the Boott Cotton Mills Museum
Fee applies
The Boott Cotton Mills Museum at Lowell National Historical Park is the best place to learn about Lowell’s industrial past. Explore the stories of the workers, engineers, inventors, and investors who…
Learn more about Explore the Boott Cotton Mills Museum on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
Visit the Park Store at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum
Looking for a guide to the park's history and culture? Searching for an educational souvenir of your visit to Lowell? Start your search at the Park Store. America's National Parks, the park's…
Learn more about Visit the Park Store at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Showing 4 of 4
Activities in the park
Pick one to find other parks that offer it.
- Boating
- Guided Tours
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
- Arts and Crafts
- Arts and Culture
- Boat Tour
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Craft Demonstrations
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
- Hands-On
Show 4 more activities
Facilities & Services
Find tours, tickets, visitor centers and other services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Tours & Tickets
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Lowell National Historical Park Tours
Ticket Facility
Discover the continuing revolution. Lowell’s water-powered textile mills propelled America – and especially its immigrant families and female factory workers – into an…
Book tickets on Recreation.gov 246 Market Street, Lowell, MA 978-970-5000 Directions
Details
Discover the continuing revolution. Lowell’s water-powered textile mills propelled America – and especially its immigrant families and female factory workers – into an uncertain industrial future. 200 years later, the changes that began here still reverberate throughout the global economy. Explore Lowell, a living monument to the dynamic human story of the Industrial Revolution.
Visitor Centers
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Boott Cotton Mills Museum
Visitor Center
Don't miss the roar of 85 operating power looms! The Boott Cotton Mills Museum includes a recreated 1920s-era weave room, historical artifacts, interactive exhibits and…
Details
Don't miss the roar of 85 operating power looms! The Boott Cotton Mills Museum includes a recreated 1920s-era weave room, historical artifacts, interactive exhibits and video programs about the Industrial Revolution and the people of Lowell. Learn more about the city’s role as a cutting-edge developer of technology and hub of economic change in the American Industrial Revolution. -
Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center
Visitor Center
Introductory exhibits about Lowell National Historical Park, tour reservations, and information about local lodging and dining. 246 Market Street, Lowell MA 01852.
Details
Introductory exhibits about Lowell National Historical Park, tour reservations, and information about local lodging and dining. 246 Market Street, Lowell MA 01852.
Plan Your Visit
Hours
Daily, 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Lowell National Historical Park
Hours details
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Lowell National Historical ParkDaily, 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Current Hours The Visitor Center (246 Market St.) is open: Daily: 9:00 am- 4:00 pm The Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John Street) is open: Daily: 9:00 am- 4:00 pm The Mogan Cultural Center (40 French Street) is open: Daily: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm; 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Monday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Tuesday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Wednesday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Thursday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Friday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Saturday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Sunday 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Entrance fees
No entrance fees listed.
Contact the park
Weather & conditions
71°F
Sunny · feels like 67°
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Today
71° 48°
Sunny79% rain
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Tomorrow
58° 47°
Fog89% rain -
Wednesday
75° 54°
Overcast76% rain
Updated 1 hr ago
What to expect by season
Summer: Throughout the summer, temperatures range from the mid 60s to mid 90s during the day, with rain and thunderstorms more common in the months of July and August. Boats and trolleys operate rain or shine and are only cancelled in cases of extreme weather or the presence of thunder and lightning. Winter: Winters are typically cold with temperatures in the mid 30s and 40s (with occasional single digit temperatures) and snow storms with a few inches accumulation occur frequently throughout the season.
Upcoming Events
9 coming up-
Step into History Walking Tour
About
Explore the city of Lowell through a ranger guided walk. Discover the many exciting topics that make Lowell special. From the natural environment to the Industrial Revolution to urban renewal, the city of Lowell has something for everyone.
The Step into History Walking Tour is offered daily at 10:00 a.m. AND 1:00 p.m.
Attendees should plan to meet at the Visitor Center front desk (246 Market Street) 15-minutes prior to the tour start time.
Visitors should plan for a 45-minute tour, all of which will be spent on your feet. Visitors can expect to walk as much a 1-mile on paved paths and are encouraged to bring water. This tour is free. Day of registration can be made at the Visitor Center front desk. -
Suffolk Mill Tour
About
Explore how numerous factors have shaped both the city’s past and its present. This tour combines a short trip through the historic city accompanied by a park ranger with a guided visit into the Suffolk Mill Turbine Exhibit.
Attendees should plan to meet at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John Street) 15-minutes prior to the tour start time.
Visitors should plan for a 75-minute tour, much of which will be spent on your feet. When available, visitors will take a short ride aboard the historic trolley to the Suffolk Mill. This tour meets and ends at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St.)
Please note that trolley services may be disrupted at any time due to city construction. In the event that the trolley cannot operate, the tour will take place on foot. Visitors can expect to walk as much as 1.5-miles on paved paths and are encouraged to bring water.This tour is free and interested parties can register day-of at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum front desk.
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Late Night at the Museum: Lowell's Night Sky
About
Visit the Boott Cotton Mills Museum for an evening exploring the wonders of the night sky, the importance of night to all living creatures, and what we can do to protect dark skies right here in Lowell. Join a ranger program to learn about how the Industrial Revolution shaped the way we experience the night with a hands-on activity about light pollution or create your very own constellation scope! Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust will bring a live Spotted Turtle and a Blanding’s Turtle, both of which nest at night. Learn about these threatened species and how you can help during the nesting season. They’ll also have information about their conservation properties around Lowell and how light pollution affects our nocturnal wildlife. UML Schueller Observatory will be there to share some of the amazing research being conducted by professors and students. They’ll introduce you to the world of astronomy that can be experienced in Lowell from your own backyard or by visiting the observatory during one of their public open house events. DarkSky Massachusetts is a proud chapter of DarkSky International, an organization established to protect the nighttime environment for all by advocating for responsible outdoor lighting. Learn what you can do to protect night skies where you live and where you can go in Massachusetts to enjoy views of the stars. This free event is part of the Late Night at the Museum series. Visit the Boott Cotton Mills Museum after-hours on the third Thursday of each month to experience the museum in a new light.No Reservations Required
Boott Cotton Mills Museum, 115 John St -
Suffolk Mill Open House
Event page for Suffolk Mill Open House (opens in a new tab)About
Take a ride on one of the iconic Trolleys from the Boott Cotton Mills Museum or walk along the Merrimack Riverwalk to the Suffolk Mill Turbine Exhibit. Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. stop by to see a real Francis Turbine and learn how this technology revolutionized the textile industry in Lowell.
Trolley will run Wednesday through Sunday from the Boott Cotton Mills Museum to the Suffolk Mill with return trips.
Show 5 more events
-
Step into History Walking Tour
About
Explore the city of Lowell through a ranger guided walk. Discover the many exciting topics that make Lowell special. From the natural environment to the Industrial Revolution to urban renewal, the city of Lowell has something for everyone.
The Step into History Walking Tour is offered Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 am
Attendees should plan to meet at the Visitor Center front desk (246 Market Street) 15-minutes prior to the tour start time.
Visitors should plan for a 45-minute tour, all of which will be spent on your feet. Visitors can expect to walk as much a 1-mile on paved paths and are encouraged to bring water. This tour is free. Day of registration can be made at the Visitor Center front desk. -
Suffolk Mill Tour
About
Explore how numerous factors have shaped both the city’s past and its present. This tour combines a short trip through the historic city accompanied by a park ranger with a guided visit into the Suffolk Mill Turbine Exhibit.
Attendees should plan to meet at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John Street) 15-minutes prior to the tour start time.
Visitors should plan for a 75-minute tour, much of which will be spent on your feet. When available, visitors will take a short ride aboard the historic trolley to the Suffolk Mill. This tour meets and ends at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St.)
Please note that trolley services may be disrupted at any time due to city construction. In the event that the trolley cannot operate, the tour will take place on foot. Visitors can expect to walk as much as 1.5-miles on paved paths and are encouraged to bring water.This tour is free and interested parties can register day-of at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum front desk.
-
Suffolk Mill Tour
About
Explore how numerous factors have shaped both the city’s past and its present. This tour combines a short trip through the historic city accompanied by a park ranger with a guided visit into the Suffolk Mill Turbine Exhibit.
Attendees should plan to meet at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John Street) 15-minutes prior to the tour start time.
Visitors should plan for a 75-minute tour, much of which will be spent on your feet. When available, visitors will take a short ride aboard the historic trolley to the Suffolk Mill. This tour meets and ends at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St.)
Please note that trolley services may be disrupted at any time due to city construction. In the event that the trolley cannot operate, the tour will take place on foot. Visitors can expect to walk as much as 1.5-miles on paved paths and are encouraged to bring water.This tour is free and interested parties can register day-of at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum front desk.
-
Step into History Walking Tour
About
Explore the city of Lowell through a ranger guided walk. Discover the many exciting topics that make Lowell special. From the natural environment to the Industrial Revolution to urban renewal, the city of Lowell has something for everyone.
The Step into History Walking Tour is offered Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 am
Attendees should plan to meet at the Visitor Center front desk (246 Market Street) 15-minutes prior to the tour start time.
Visitors should plan for a 45-minute tour, all of which will be spent on your feet. Visitors can expect to walk as much a 1-mile on paved paths and are encouraged to bring water. This tour is free. Day of registration can be made at the Visitor Center front desk. -
Suffolk Mill Tour
About
Explore how numerous factors have shaped both the city’s past and its present. This tour combines a short trip through the historic city accompanied by a park ranger with a guided visit into the Suffolk Mill Turbine Exhibit.
Attendees should plan to meet at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John Street) 15-minutes prior to the tour start time.
Visitors should plan for a 75-minute tour, much of which will be spent on your feet. When available, visitors will take a short ride aboard the historic trolley to the Suffolk Mill. This tour meets and ends at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St.)
Please note that trolley services may be disrupted at any time due to city construction. In the event that the trolley cannot operate, the tour will take place on foot. Visitors can expect to walk as much as 1.5-miles on paved paths and are encouraged to bring water.This tour is free and interested parties can register day-of at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum front desk.
Photos
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Lowell National Historical Park operates reproduction vintage streetcars throughout the park and downtown Lowell. Climb onboard for a ride or a ranger-guided tour. — NPS Photo/James Higgins -
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Getting There
Lowell, MA 01852
The Boott Cotton Mills Museum is located at 115 John Street. Paid parking is available across the street from the museum in the Joseph Downes Garage located at 75 John Street.
Full directions
Click the link below for more detailed directions.
Mailing address: 67 Kirk Street, Lowell, MA 01852
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