Pawtucket, RI Exit Exit 28N or 29S: Slater Mill Living History Museum – In 1789, 21-year-old Samuel Slater left England with some knowledge of textile machinery, having been a manager in the Arkwright Mills in Derbyshire. With financial support from Moses Brown, he built this water-powered mill in 1793, and within the year was able to produce cotton yarn.
One of these machines could supply a weaver with the same amount of yarn as 10 hand weavers. This was the first water-powered factory in America, and it helped transform the area so much that by 1820 processing cotton became the backbone of Rhode Island’s economy. Besides the mill, the museum displays the history of US textile manufacturing, including a real live cotton gin.
On site is the Wilkinson Mill, built of rubble stone in 1810, and it is used as a machine shop and textile mill. Moved to the site is the Sylvanus Brown House (1758), which is now used for spinning and weaving demonstrations and which sports a textile and dye garden.
Location: Slater Mill Living History Museum, 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860
Hours: Mar, Apr, & Nov: Sat & Sun, 11 – 3 pm
May, June, Sept, & Oct: Tues- Sun, 10 – 4 pm
July 4 thru Labor Day: Open 7 days, 10 – 4 pm
Tel: 401-725-8638
slatermill.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: tourblackstone.com