Towpath Talks

Join a Park Ranger for a walk along the historic Blackstone Canal Towpath. Walks last between 45 - 60 minutes. Rangers offer talks on the history of the Blackstone Canal, transportation, and industrial landscapes. Programs might also be on environmental topics such as g......More

Join a Park Ranger for a walk along the historic Blackstone Canal Towpath. Walks last between 45 - 60 minutes. Rangers offer talks on the history of the Blackstone Canal, transportation, and industrial landscapes. Programs might also be on environmental topics such as geology, birding, wildlife, natural landscapes, and pollution.These programs are offered on Saturdays in the months of June, July, August, and September. Walks start in front of the Captain Wilbur Kelly House Transportation Museum at 10:00 A.M. In case of inclement weather, Towpath Talks will be held inside of the Kelly House Barn. The Barn is located about 100 yards down the walking trail past the Kelly House Museum of Transporation.

1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI. Tours meet at the Kelly House Transportation Museum

Old Slater Mill Tour

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM an......More

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM in front of the mill. Please arrive a few minutes early. Please Note: For visitor saftey, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or cancelled if the heat index is at or above 87 degrees Fahrenheit. A shortened 10 minute Ranger talk will be offered at the normal tour times. Visitors will have a brief period of access to the main part of the mill. For the latest weather information, call 401-725-8638.

67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860

Old Slater Mill Tour

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM an......More

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM in front of the mill. Please arrive a few minutes early. Please Note: For visitor saftey, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or cancelled if the heat index is at or above 87 degrees Fahrenheit. A shortened 10 minute Ranger talk will be offered at the normal tour times. Visitors will have a brief period of access to the main part of the mill. For the latest weather information, call 401-725-8638.

67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860

Take Me Fishing

Learn to fish with us this summer!Join park staff Sunday afternoons in June, July, and August for some FREE family fun. Catch some fish, learn about the river, and earn a Junior Angler badge. All fishing material and bait are provided. Activities available from 11:00 AM......More

Learn to fish with us this summer!Join park staff Sunday afternoons in June, July, and August for some FREE family fun. Catch some fish, learn about the river, and earn a Junior Angler badge. All fishing material and bait are provided. Activities available from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.Participants can drop-in at the Kelly House Barn at the Blackstone River State Park. This structure is located just down the towpath from the Kelly House Transportation Museum. Free parking is available at this site. Registration is not required and the program is free and open to all ages/skill levels.A portable toilet is available at this site. 

Meet at the Kelly House Barn down the path from the Kelly House Museum of Transportation, 1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI 02865

Nature Walk and Scavenger Hunt

Join us for nature walk and scavenger hunt. These walks through the Blackstone River State Park are intended for naturalists of all ages. Younger visitors will be able to complete a plant and animal scavenger hunt. Binoculars and animal identification guides are availab......More

Join us for nature walk and scavenger hunt. These walks through the Blackstone River State Park are intended for naturalists of all ages. Younger visitors will be able to complete a plant and animal scavenger hunt. Binoculars and animal identification guides are available for participants to borrow.Sturdy shoes and water are recommended for this program. This program is free and open to allMeet the guide by the Kelly House Museum of Transportation at 6:00 PM.

1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI

Family Ties and Industrial Bonds: The Partnership of Brown, Almy, and Slater

Explore the early New England history of industrialization and textile mills. When Samuel Slater arrived in Rhode Island in January of 1790, few would have guessed that he was primed for success in the new United States. Yet, by the end of his life in 1835, Slater was o......More

Explore the early New England history of industrialization and textile mills. When Samuel Slater arrived in Rhode Island in January of 1790, few would have guessed that he was primed for success in the new United States. Yet, by the end of his life in 1835, Slater was obscenely wealthy, and his name was inextricably linked to the origins of American industry. During this lecture, a ranger will explore the connections between Moses Brown, William Almy, and Samuel Slater. These men were among the early partners who provided ideas, financing, and labor that launched the American Industrial Revolution. This event is free and open to the public. The talk will start at 6:30 P.M. Registration is requested. The event will be held in the Tilton Room at the Carpenter Museum (4 Locust Avenue, Rehoboth, MA). Parking can be found in the back lot behind the museum off of Bay State Road. 

The talk will be held in the Tilton Room at the Carpenter Museum (4 Locust Avenue, Rehoboth, MA). Parking can be found in the back lot behind the museum off of Bay State Road.

Old Slater Mill Tour

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM an......More

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM in front of the mill. Please arrive a few minutes early. Please Note: For visitor saftey, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or cancelled if the heat index is at or above 87 degrees Fahrenheit. A shortened 10 minute Ranger talk will be offered at the normal tour times. Visitors will have a brief period of access to the main part of the mill. For the latest weather information, call 401-725-8638.

67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860

Ranger Walkabout: Stepping Out to Skull Rock Lock

Discover the history of Skull Rock Lock and take a walk with a ranger from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Meet in the parking lot of Uxbridge High School in Uxbridge, MA. Location: 300 Quaker Hwy, Uxbridge, MAThis program is part of o......More

Discover the history of Skull Rock Lock and take a walk with a ranger from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Meet in the parking lot of Uxbridge High School in Uxbridge, MA. Location: 300 Quaker Hwy, Uxbridge, MAThis program is part of our summer Walkabout series. Join rangers on Thursday evenings throughout June, July, and August to explore locations across the Blackstone River Watershed. 

Meet rangers at Uxbridge High School, located at 300 Quaker Hwy, Uxbridge, MA.

Revolutionary War Veteran's Pension Transcription Program

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, the National Archives and National Park Service are collaborating on a special project to transcribe Revolutionary War Pension Files of more than 80,000 of America's first veterans and their widows, conta......More

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, the National Archives and National Park Service are collaborating on a special project to transcribe Revolutionary War Pension Files of more than 80,000 of America's first veterans and their widows, containing more than 2 million documents. These records may contain valuable details about Revolutionary War veterans and their families, such as rank, unit, period of service, age, residence, date and place of marriage, and date and place of death of spouse. You may find copies of marriage or other family records, information pertaining to military activities or details about soldiers' lives, along with letters, diaries, or family trees within these records. Become a citizen archivist and unlock the details and stories found within these rich records!  Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation are co-hosting a Revolutionary War Veteran’s Pension Transcription Program on Friday, June 26th, 2026 at 10:00 A.M. at the Worcester Visitor Center (3 Paul Clancy Way, Worcester, MA). Participants will learn about the value of wartime pensions and hear service stories about patriots from the Blackstone Valley. Rangers will provide training on how to access pensions and transcribe these vital records online. Are you ready to join us and contribute to the nation's 250th anniversary?  These programs are free and open to all. Please bring a laptop. 

Old Slater Mill Tour

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM an......More

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM in front of the mill. Please arrive a few minutes early. Please Note: For visitor saftey, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or cancelled if the heat index is at or above 87 degrees Fahrenheit. A shortened 10 minute Ranger talk will be offered at the normal tour times. Visitors will have a brief period of access to the main part of the mill. For the latest weather information, call 401-725-8638.

67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860

Towpath Talks

Join a Park Ranger for a walk along the historic Blackstone Canal Towpath. Walks last between 45 - 60 minutes. Rangers offer talks on the history of the Blackstone Canal, transportation, and industrial landscapes. Programs might also be on environmental topics such as g......More

Join a Park Ranger for a walk along the historic Blackstone Canal Towpath. Walks last between 45 - 60 minutes. Rangers offer talks on the history of the Blackstone Canal, transportation, and industrial landscapes. Programs might also be on environmental topics such as geology, birding, wildlife, natural landscapes, and pollution.These programs are offered on Saturdays in the months of June, July, August, and September. Walks start in front of the Captain Wilbur Kelly House Transportation Museum at 10:00 A.M. In case of inclement weather, Towpath Talks will be held inside of the Kelly House Barn. The Barn is located about 100 yards down the walking trail past the Kelly House Museum of Transporation.

1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI. Tours meet at the Kelly House Transportation Museum

Old Slater Mill Tour

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM an......More

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM in front of the mill. Please arrive a few minutes early. Please Note: For visitor saftey, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or cancelled if the heat index is at or above 87 degrees Fahrenheit. A shortened 10 minute Ranger talk will be offered at the normal tour times. Visitors will have a brief period of access to the main part of the mill. For the latest weather information, call 401-725-8638.

67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860

Old Slater Mill Tour

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM an......More

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM in front of the mill. Please arrive a few minutes early. Please Note: For visitor saftey, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or cancelled if the heat index is at or above 87 degrees Fahrenheit. A shortened 10 minute Ranger talk will be offered at the normal tour times. Visitors will have a brief period of access to the main part of the mill. For the latest weather information, call 401-725-8638.

67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860

Take Me Fishing

Learn to fish with us this summer!Join park staff Sunday afternoons in June, July, and August for some FREE family fun. Catch some fish, learn about the river, and earn a Junior Angler badge. All fishing material and bait are provided. Activities available from 11:00 AM......More

Learn to fish with us this summer!Join park staff Sunday afternoons in June, July, and August for some FREE family fun. Catch some fish, learn about the river, and earn a Junior Angler badge. All fishing material and bait are provided. Activities available from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.Participants can drop-in at the Kelly House Barn at the Blackstone River State Park. This structure is located just down the towpath from the Kelly House Transportation Museum. Free parking is available at this site. Registration is not required and the program is free and open to all ages/skill levels.A portable toilet is available at this site. 

Meet at the Kelly House Barn down the path from the Kelly House Museum of Transportation, 1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI 02865