The 1793 opening of Samuel Slater's cotton mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island ushered in an historical phenomenon now known as America's Industrial Revolution. Along the banks of the Blackstone River, for which the region is named, dozens of factories sprung up, employing generations of working-class families and drawing thousands of immigrants from around the world. Many serve today as factory outlet stores, art studios and artists' lofts.
Today visitors, school groups and history buffs alike are drawn to the region to explore its fascinating history and discover its important effects on America's growth as a manufacturing giant. Some of the region's most popular attractions are Slater Mill Historic Site (1793), riverboat cruises aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer, and the Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor. And be sure to visit the Blackstone Valley's newest attraction, The Museum of Work and Culture. The state of the art museum provides a fascinating interactive experience for visitors as it traces the story of mill workers who came from the farms of Quebec in the last third of the 19th century to work in the shoe and textile factories of new England.
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