Blackstone River Valley — Things to see and do in Blackstone River Valley, New England

After moving to Massachusetts from Florida for college in the 1970s, I ended up living quite near the Blackstone River Valley, which stretches from Worcester, Massachusetts in the north, to Pawtucket, Rhode Island (next to Providence) in the south. Shortly after I’d moved here, my sister, who loves exploring new places, asked what we could see in nearby Woonsocket, RI, in the heart of the valley. I asked neighbors where in Woonsocket I could take my sister and heard, “Nowhere; there’s nothing to see.”

We made other plans, but the disappointment stayed with me. Woonsocket is a small city, around 46,000 residents, filled with immigrants from around the world. It is also a New England mill town that was economically devastated by the exodus of the textile mills to other states (and eventually overseas), which began after violent labor strikes in the 1930s. I later learned that lots of “things to see” were hiding in plain sight, just waiting for people to recognize their value and work to develop and make these destinations available to explore.

Things to see and do in Blackstone River Valley

In 1986 the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor was founded by the U.S. Congress. Local efforts to preserve the history of the Industrial Revolution, which began in the valley, where bolstered by an infusion of federal funds and the enthusiasm of local residents. Public-private partnerships developed that have become an integral part of the wider community. The twenty-seven towns within the valley became the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park in 2014.

Slater Mill in Pawtucket was the first water-powered textile mill in America. Samuel Slater brought (in his head) from England closely guarded secrets about how to construct mechanized textile mills. The mill Slater helped construct, on the banks of the Blackstone River, is considered the site of the founding of the industrial revolution. The restored mill is open to the public, and is an integral part of the visitor center for the National Historical Park.

An almost forgotten feature in the valley was the Blackstone Canal, built in the 1820s, and abandoned in the 1840s. As opposed to travel with wagons over rugged cart paths, the 48-mile canal provided a faster and more affordable method to transport goods from inland Massachusetts to the port in Providence, RI. Riverbend Farm State Park in Uxbridge, MA features one of the best portions of restored tow path and preserved canal. The state park’s visitor center, with lots of information about the Blackstone Valley, is handicapped accessible and has accessible bathrooms. The steep slope from the visitor center to the adjacent canal tow path restricts access for some, but the one-mile hard-packed dirt tow path itself fits my definition of an Easy Walk—not too many roots or rocks, relatively level, with something of interest along the way.

Alongside the bike path is the Captain Wilbur Kelly House Transportation Museum in Lincoln, RI. The Kelly House is situated between the river and the canal, and its contents portray how the Blackstone River and canal were used as transportation from earliest days of settlement by native peoples to the industrial revolution.

Maple Sugaring festivals take place every early spring, with the public invited to see what is involved in making this natural New England product. Apple festivals, hay rides, corn mazes, pumpkin carving parties draw large crowds who are eager to take part in the fun. Local residents volunteer for river cleanups, cultural events, hiking and biking expeditions, history talks, and more.

And that trip to Woonsocket? It now has the Museum of Work and Culture, a repository of artifacts and stories about the industrial revolution. The museum backs up to the Blackstone River in the Market Square area of the city. An 11-mile paved section of the Blackstone River Bikeway, (a rail trail) from Woonsocket south to Cumberland and Lincoln, RI offers stunning river views. A number of great restaurants are in the downtown area, including Valley Falls restaurant, overlooking Thundermist falls (part of the Blackstone River), Chan's Chines restaurant, Thai Garden, Christophers and Ciros. If live entertainment is what you enjoy, be sure to check out the Stadium Theater, a restored vaudeville theater in the downtown area.

If you are looking for someplace less crowded that the “greatest hits” of tourist destinations, you may want to consider exploring the valley. The northern and southern terminuses of the park (Worcester and Providence) have plentiful lodging and restaurants. Because many of the towns in the middle of the valley are relatively rural, public transportation is limited. Airport access is available from Boston, Providence or Worcester. The National Historical Park and the Blackstone Valley Heritage Corridor websites are chock full of helpful information for those considering a visit.

I have lived here most of my life, and have never grown tired of the historic homes and brick mills, the farms, the hills, the stone walls and glacial erratics (large stones perched on hillsides), of south central New England. If you are fascinated by American history, you may learn something new by visiting the Blackstone Valley. Is the famed New England fall foliage on your “bucket list”? Plan to visit the valley in early October. Everywhere you look will be aflame with color. But be warned: it doesn’t last long, but it's worth the trip.

Marjorie Turner Hollman is a freelance writer/ editor who loves the outdoors, uses hiking poles to help keep her balance on the trail, and has completed four books in the Easy Walks guide book series. Learn more about Marjorie at marjorieturner.com