The Industrial Revolution began in the Blackstone River Valley, changing the Valley’s landscape and transforming life in America. The Age of Industry left behind mill villages, roads and trails, dams and mill ponds, agricultural and natural landscapes, and ethnic or Yankee traditions in neighborhoods, languages, and foods. Today, efforts are underway to protect the Valley’s distinctive heritage landscapes. The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor was established by the U.S. Congress in 1986 to recognize the region’s special place in American history. Located between Worcester, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island, the 46 mile-long Corridor includes whole cities and towns and more than a half-million people. As an affiliated area of the National Park System, it differs from traditional national parks because the federal government owns no land within it; instead, individuals, businesses, organizations, numerous local and two state governments, the National Park Service, and a unifying commission work together to protect the Valley’s special identity and prepare for its future. Near Pawtucket Falls in Rhode Island, Samuel Slater and his partners built the first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill in the United States in 1793, helping shift American life and economy from farming to industry. The Blackstone River and Canal now provide recreational opportunities such as canoeing, fishing, biking, and hiking, while ongoing clean-up efforts continue to improve a river long affected by pollution from industry and other activities. Important wetlands overlook the river from Lookout Rock in Northbridge, and protecting natural areas along the Valley improves water quality, wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities. The Valley also includes hilltop villages built before the Industrial Revolution that served as centers of religious, government, social, and economic affairs, as well as clusters of 19th century mill housing near rivers, where many mill owners built entire communities including factories, houses, churches, stores, and libraries.
