Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park · RI, MA
Park Closure · Slater Mill Closed Until Further Notice
Due to construction, the Slater Mill is closed to the public until further notice. The indoor Visitor Center is closed, and all tours are cancelled. There are currently no restrooms available onsite. Park grounds remain open for visitors. A temporary contact station with basic visitor services will be set up outdoors. Rangers will provide informal interpretation of the site.
The Blackstone River powered America's entry into the Age of Industry. The success of Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, RI touched off a chain reaction that changed how people worked and where they lived. Learn how this revolution transformed the landscape of the Blackstone Valley and the United States. The Visitor Center at Old Slater Mill is closed for the winter season.
- NPS site
- nps.gov/blrv
- Location
- Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park (41.878, -71.382)
Track your visit to Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
NP Tracker keeps a record of every National Park Service unit you visit — all 430-plus of them. Log visits with dates and photos, collect passport stamps, plan trips, and watch your map fill in. It's free.
Passport stamp locations
- Captain Wilbur Kelly Transportation Museum
- Old Slater Mill
- Old Slater Mill Visitor Center
- The Kelly Barn Visitor Station
- The Western Mill and Slatersville Library
Hours
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Parktoday: Sunrise to Sunset
- Sat Oct 3Sunrise to Sunset
- Sun Oct 4Sunrise to Sunset
- Mon Oct 5Sunrise to Sunset
- Tue Oct 6Sunrise to Sunset
- Wed Oct 7Sunrise to Sunset
- Thu Oct 8Sunrise to Sunset
- Fri Oct 9Sunrise to Sunset
The park grounds are open from Sunrise to Sunset. The headquarters are located at Slater Mill 67 Roosevelt Ave Pawtucket, RI 02860 (401) 725-8638
Hours are retrieved from the National Park Service and can change without notice — check the official site before you go.
Visitor centers
1
- Old Slater Mill Visitor Centertoday: 10:00AM - 4:00PMDirections
Self-guided tours
5
A Beginning: Old Slater Mill and the Industrial Revolution20–45 minutes · 5 stops
Explore the grounds at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark and learn more about the beginnings of the America's industrial age. See three historic buildings, the Blackstone River, a dam, and a waterfall. Read the interpretive panels that dot the landscape and listen to this self-guided audio tour to learn more about the dramatic changes that began at this site.
From Commune to Company Town45–90 minutes · 9 stops
During this tour, you will learn about Hopedale’s early idealistic residents and the rise of the Draper company, which became one of the largest producers of textile machines in the world. Today, the physical imprint of Draper is much smaller than it used to be, but traces of the Drapers’ legacy—and some elements of that commune period— remain. We invite you to travel back in time, commune with nature, and discover the industrial legacy still imprinted on the Dale of Hope.
Slatersville: America's First Planned Mill Village45–90 minutes · 7 stops
Welcome to Slatersville, one of six sites that make up Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. At first glance, Slatersville looks like a classic New England small town, but in reality, Slatersville is America's first planned mill village. Its true heart is the massive stone mill. Join us as we explore this rich cultural landscape and uncover the story of America's first planned industrial community.
Entrance fees
No entrance fee.