Sat - Sept 7 - Lowell, MA - Lowell National Historical Park

The Lowell, MA textile mill system started in the early 1800's became the model for American manufacturing and helped start of the Industrial Revolution. The mills have closed, but the National Park Service has developed this historical site - well worth a visit: http://www.nps.gov/lowe/index.htm

We took a tour on a boat of the canal

Waiting for the tour

Waiting for the ranger to meet us

Boarding the trolley

Inside the trolley

On the boat in the canal

Dam in canal

More old mills

Canal walls built by Irishmen in early 1800's no mortar is used - original walls still standing.

 view of old mill from boat - now artist studios

railroad bridge

 bride we went under

water power

Going through the lock:

The flood gate last used in 1936

approaching the dam

on the edge of the dam

the dam

Off the boat - boarding the street car named desire - this car is from New Orleans was used in New Orleans until the 1960s - now belongs to the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME - on loan to the Lowell park

 Inside the streetcar

street car interior

Lowell City Hall

Boott Cotton Mills

 Canal at Boott Cotton Mills

Outside Boott Cotton Mills

Time clock at Boott

Below are various machines at Boott - they turned the looms on when we were there - they make dish towels to sell in the gift shop.

The walls were lined with Fire buckets

we also visited a museum that was a boarding house for the mill girls in the 1800's.