East Providence / Pawtucket / Central Falls
East Providence
John Hunt House, East Providence
Only a portion of East Providence is within the Heritage Corridor. The two villages of Rumford and Phillipsdale made two very different products, baking powder and steel. The shoreline of the Blackstone River along East Providence, here named the Seekonk River, was home to an active shell fishing fleet.
Self-guided tour of East Providence, RI: Rumford Walking Tour Brochure (PDF)
John Hunt House
This restored 1770 house and adjacent mill is home to the East Providence Historical Society that shares the history of the city with the public. The John Hunt House serves not only as the hub of activities associated with the Historical Society, but also as a house museum and repository for articles of significance to the city.
Read more about John Hunt House: www.visitrhodeisland.com
Newman Church and Common
Town commons are rare in Rhode Island, but East Providence still was part of Rumford, MA when it was settled in 1643. The current church, built in 1810, still serves as the focal point of this traditional New England town center.
Read more about Newman Church: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumford
Pawtucket
Pawtucket is the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, site of Samuel Slater’s cotton spinning mill in 1790. But for one hundred years before, craftsmen had made tools and machines at forges powered by the Blackstone River, and even today, Pawtucket is still best known as a working city.
Self-guided tour of Pawtucket, RI: Pawtucket Walking Tour Brochure (PDF)
Pawtucket Falls
The river drops 25 feet between the bottom of the upper dam and the bottom of the falls. In 1718 a dam of gravel and stone was built at the natural falls to harness the waterpower. By 1823, forges, mills and craftsmen's shops were clustered on the banks of Sargeant's Trench--a small canal alongside the river that powered Pawtucket's early industry and rejoined the river below the falls.
Read more about Pawtucket Falls:
Pawtucket Visitors Center
This is the perfect place to begin your tour of the Blackstone Valley. View a 20- minute overview film of the valley’s rich history, and pick up brochures and maps to help guide you on your way to discover the rest of the Valley’s wonders.
Read more about Pawtucket Visitors Center: www.tourblackstone.com
Rhode Island Watercolor Society Art Gallery
The Rhode Island Watercolor Society is one of the oldest in the United States. Housed in the historic boathouse in Slater Park, the interior includes a permanent gallery with paintings, prints and drawings by well-known artists.
Slater Memorial Park
Besides serving as Pawtucket’s main recreation center, Slater Memorial Park is home to several of the city’s treasures, including the Dagget House, built in 1685, which is filled with an eclectic collection of antiques, celebrating Pawtucket and U.S. History. Nearby is the historic 1894 Loof Carousel.
Read more about Slater Memorial Park:
Slater Mill Historic Site
Slater Mill is the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. In 1790, Samuel Slater began operation of the first successful textile mill in America. Today, you can tour three buildings here, including the 1793 Slater Mill, the 1810 Wilkinson Mill and the 1758 Sylvanus Brown House. Discover what life in the United States was like before and after industrialization.
Read more about Slater Mill Historic Site: www.slatermill.org
Central Falls
Central Falls began as a small manufacturing site in the corner of the town of Smithfield. Eventually it grew to become the most densely populated city in America in the early 20th Century, with 24,000 people packed into its one square mile. Today, the city of Central Falls is still the vibrant home to workers from all over the world.
Self-guided tours of Central Falls, RI:
Blackstone Valley Explorer
On these cruises you may see swan, herons, geese, ducks, turtles, hawks and beautiful plants and trees! The tour guide explains the ecology of the river and surrounding wetlands interspersed with stories about the people and history of the region. What better way to discover the Blackstone River than by boat?
Read more about Blackstone Valley Explorer: www.rivertourblackstone.com
Jenks Park / Cogswell Tower
From the base of Cogswell Tower, built in 1904 on top of Dexter’s Ledge, you have a spectacular view not only of the City of Central Falls, but much of Northern Rhode Island. Its picturesque walkways take visitors away from the modern world, leading them past iron umbrellas and up toward Cogswell Tower.
Read more about Jenks Park and Cogswell Tower:
Lysander & Susan Flagg Museum
Located at the site of the Sullivan Ballou Post #3, the museum features local history, including maps, newspapers, photographs, paintings and artifacts. Also displayed are the Veterans Memorial Wall, Lorenzo DeNevers paintings and the Gilbert R. Merrill Textile collection.
Read more about Lysander & Susan Flagg Museum: teachinghistory.org