Cultural Landscape Report for Slater Mill Historic Site, Blackstone Valley NHP
Killion JT, Fielding C, Kulick M, Foulds E. 2021. Cultural Landscape Report for Slater Mill Historic Site, Blackstone Valley NHP. Cultural Landscape Report. ISBN: 978-1-7333069-3-5. National Park Service, Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation. Boston, Massachusetts
Located on the banks of the lower Blackstone River in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Slater Mill Historic Site is a component of the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, a park unit established in December 2014. The park preserves, protects, and interprets the nationally significant resources that exemplified the industrial heritage of the Blackstone River Valley. The 4.23-acre property includes two historic mills and a cottage, a partially reconstructed raceway and tailrace, old stone and concrete river walls, remnant foundations, and a footbridge. These features are set amongst tree-shaded lawns and paved walkways that provide views of the river and Pawtucket Falls. Slater Mill Historic Site is a designated National Historic Landmark, and recognized as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. The core of the site preserves three historic buildings: Samuel Slater’s 1793 mill, Oziel and David Wilkinson’s 1810-1811 mill, and Sylvanus Brown’s 1758 cottage (moved to the site in 1972). The Old Slater Mill was modeled after English cotton spinning mills and is the first water-powered cotton spinning mill in North America to utilize the Arkwright method of spinning cotton. The Wilkinson Mill played a critical role in the history of textile technology, in steam power generation, and in the development of the machine tool industry. The Brown House is where Brown’s patternmaking and carpentry skills helped him produce mechanized textile machinery with Samuel Slater between 1789 and 1791. Operation of the site as a museum, exhibit area, and public open space for passive recreation and special events was managed by the Old Slater Mill Association until March 2021, when the property was acquired by the National Park Service. “We are honored to become the stewards of this incredibly important National Historic Landmark,” said Park Superintendent Eric Breitkreutz. “We look forward to working with our partners, the Old Slater Mill Association, and the City of Pawtucket, to continue the public interpretation of this seminal historic site on the banks of the Blackstone River.”
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Killion, Jeffrey; Fielding, Clelie; Kulick, Maryrose; Foulds, Eliot
- Date of Issue
- 2021
- Publisher
- National Park Service, Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation
- Units
- BLRV
- Keywords
- Bicycle Trail, Business, Church School, CLR, Commerce/Trade, Courthouse, Creating Social Institutions and Movements, cultural landscape, cultural landscape report, David Wilkinson, Developing the American Economy, Domestic (Residential), Education, Expanding Science and Technology, Government, Historic Preservation Movement, Industrial Innovations, Industrial Production Processes (Including Agriculture), Industrial/Processing/Extract, Industry, Interpretive Landscape, Invention, Landscape, landscape preservation, Lounge), Machinery and Instruments, Manufacturing Facility (Mill), Manufacturing Organizations, Meeting Hall (Fraternal), Monument (Marker, Multifamily (4+ Units), Multiple Dwelling, Museum (Curatorial) Storage, Museum (Exhibition Hall), OCLP, Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, Oziel Wilkinson, Pedestrian Related, Plaque), Plaza/Public Space (Square), Recreation/Culture, Religion, Restaurant (Bar, Samuel Slater, Single Family Dwelling, Single Family House, Social, Social and Humanitarian Movements, Specialty Store (Shop), Sylvanus Brown, Technology (Engineering and Invention), Textile and Apparel Industries, The Industrial Revolution, Transforming the Environment, Transportation, Urban Park, William Almy
- Subjects
- NPS.gov Subject Site: Cultural Landscapes , NPS.gov Subject Site: Historic Preservation , NPS.gov Subject Site: National Historic Landmarks , NPS.gov Subject Site: National Register of Historic Places , NPS.gov Subject Site: Rivers , NPS.gov Subject Site: Technology & Invention , CRIS-CL: 976197: Slater Mill Historic Site