Didn't feel like doing the guided tour, but having never been here as a lifelong RI-er I figured I'd take the plunge. Nice, historical sight with loads of history and information even without taking the tour. Just on the out squirts of the shady part(s) of the state, but right next to the police station. The water was really bustling on this day. On a day where I have more time I'll definitely have to take a more extended look. read more

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This is a free historic site that has a really great tour. The site is just off the river and there are a few buildings on site, but not all of them are open. But there are multiple tours during the day, so after perhaps watching the intro video, you can join one. The guide took us into the mill and demonstrated multiple machines used in various stages of cotton to thread production. It was great to see the process in front of us, and it was quite a complex process that required a lot of engineering using waterpower to get completed. I found it very informative, and the guide was able to answer all of our questions, so it's a great experience for kids and adults. No gift shop though, but there is a bathroom on site. The building was described to me as "yellow" when it's peach, but I won't fault that, just saying if you're looking for it, look for peach. There is parking across the street and a small lot next to it. read more

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We took a guided tour here. The history of this place is very interesting. Definitely worth stopping by. read more

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Small NPS site located in the middle of downtown area. Most of the historic buildings were closed to the public, I'm assuming because of the pandemic. There is a small visitor's center with a single Park Ranger inside to answer your questions. There is also a short film you can watch inside. The coolest thing here was the small dam on the Blackstone River. That's about it. Wonder when they will reopen the buildings to the public? read more

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We came by not knowing what to expect. The staff at the visitor center across the street suggested we try to see if we can catch the last bit of the 2:30 tour. When we got there, a small group was just finished with the tour. Luckily, the park ranger, Tyler was super nice to head back into the mill to give my husband and I a tour. He was super passionate and engaging as he told the story of the Slater Mills. He was really informative and we learned a TON about the local history and how it impacted industrialization of our country. Eye opening to see how the industry evolved! The surrounding property is really nice and it always feels awesome to be in a space with so much history. Highly recommend but make sure you're around for the tour! Tour times are 10:30, 12:30, 2:30! read more

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We decided to follow a guide to waterfalls in Rhode Island and this was our first stop. The waterfall was nice; however, the neighborhood left much to be desired. Multiple vagrants camped out on the property and dead animals on the sidewalk made us want to run for the car. I hear that the museum is nice, but will probably not come back again to check it out. All in all, not worth the visit this trip. read more

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Downtown Pawtucket is one of the best kept secrets in Rhode Island. Pawtucket actually gets a mention in the movie Gone With The Wind. The river which flows through Pawtucket, fueled areas which produced many items. One can take a tour through the Mill, relax behind the Police station, or walk up Walcott Street. Walcott is where the Mill owners lived. One can see a connection with Walcott Street to Newport. read more

Slater Mill Historic Site - Museums Near Me - Pawtucket, Rhode Island

this is actually worth seeing. This documents the beginnings of the industrial revolution in America. The is one of the very first industrial textile mills in the country. It has the original building along with a lot of the original equipment still in working order. You can really get a good sense of what it was like to work here. read more

My husband and I stopped here to check out the waterfall this past weekend. We were a bit surprised to see all the vagrants and trash about the grounds so we weren't very comfortable and didn't stick around. Plus there were a couple dead bats on the walkway, so it sort of just turned us off. The clock tower in the background was pretty and I loved the sound of the rushing water. We took our pics and bolted! lol read more

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we were here yesterday. unfortunately they were closed for tours. we have to go back, because i really want to take one. it looks like a interesting place. i took some pictures. its haunted. i had my emf meter. while we were there it wasnt working. when we got home it was working fine. while we were there i got suddenly depressed. was this paranormal, probably. i cant wait to go back and see what happens.. read more

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Such a wonderful place in Pawtucket-- perfect for history buffs, shutterbugs, and nature lovers alike!! Special events are regularly held at the mill -- and it's available for weddings. The walking paths are also 100% accessible which is a nice plus. read more

Slater Mill Historic Site - Museums Near Me - Pawtucket, Rhode Island

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Excellent presentation! We were able to your several buildings on the property. Our tour guide even turned on the water mill for us. Everyone was quite knowledgable and prepared. Children may grow antsy, but the guides do a good job tailoring to them. Worth a visit for sure! read more

Slater Mill Historic Site - Running a loom. - Museums Near Me - Pawtucket, Rhode Island

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Historical site in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, which is open to the public for a fee. Primarily self-guided, there are several buildings on site that can be visited, and a nearby archeological site. The water wheel of the original wheelhouse of 1793 has been recreated several times due to wood rot, and at times when the river water level is high enough, particularly in the spring and consistently up to June, you may observe the wheel in action, providing mechanical energy to power some of the mill machines in the exhibit hall for demonstration purposes, as explained by the staff running a miniature wheel model. read more

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It having been at least 10 years since visiting this site, I thought it time to return to reminisce my childhood and feel the rush of hearing water gush over a steep rock wall, under cars that speed across the bridge above. I do not recommend going on a chilly day in March as I did, a trip here would be more enjoyable in the late spring and summer months. Slater Mill is a national historical landmark, site of the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution! The property has 2+ water-powered mills (built 1758 and 1810), a museum with textile machinery, and an early colonial house (built 1758). March thru October, visitors can join group tours of the museum and its immediate surroundings. Several events are held throughout the season including ghost tours, quilting/knitting shows, lectures, etc. Though the museum itself was not open, a friend and I made our way around to all the outdoor plaques and informational signs regarding the buildings on this property. Though I felt like a middle-schooler on a field trip, I appreciated the information on these signs more than I would have back then. Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution?! Pretty sweet! I felt very historical :) Across the river is a small park and wooded area with stairs that lead down to the water itself. Except for the few empty beer cans and vodka bottles, the view of the grounds from this area was exceptional. The sun glistens off the water and the sounds of the falls whisks you off to another time when the cotton mill was in working order. I will consider returning here in the summer to catch a tour of the mill itself or to enjoy one of the many outdoor events. read more

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Slater Mill was undergoing some repairs when I visited. I guess the repairs will be finished by the end of June or July. There are three buildings there. There's the Slater Mill, the Wilkinson Mill, and the Sylvanus Brown House. Parking is free for visitors. I went on a tour. They have a continuous tour where you pay at the desk, and then you link up with wherever the tour is, and stay as long as you want. It was very interesting to learn about all the tools and machines that people invented to manufacture textiles. Some of these old machines are still in use today in some third-world countries. In the Sylvanus Brown house we learned about what a household was like hundreds of years ago. Did you know pewter plates contain lead? I didn't. They mention some famous inventors like Eli Whitney and his cotton gin. They even claim that Robert Fulton, "inventor of the steam boat", got the idea from the Wilkinson family. It's also interesting to learn how textile manufacturing has influenced the English language. Words like "flaxen hair", tow-head, and dozens of other words are all derived from the textile manufacturing. I feel a strong connection to this place. I think when we learn about our history we have a better understanding of ourselves. read more

This is another place that I believe that any American with an interest in industrial history would love. Definitely spend the money and take the tour. The docent I had was extremely informative. On the tour, you'll visit the 1810 Wilkinson Mill bldg, a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark which holds the "workshop" and mill wheel. In the Slater Mill bldg, you'll see some of the working machines used in the cotton spinning industry during the period. As an added incentive, this site is now part of the National Parks Service Blackstone River Valley. read more

Slater Mill Historic Site - Inside machine shop - Museums Near Me - Pawtucket, Rhode Island

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Definitely worth the $12 tour. Over an hour of history, anecdotes, hands on, moving mechanical works and we saw the mill in operation. Very cool. read more

I've been three times in my life and would go again. Nice museum and I could watch the water wheel all day long. I enjoy the flax demo.

Beautiful historic site! The tour is worth a go, but be sure you have at least an hour or two. I learned a lot about how families lived in Colonial America (everything from how they made food to how they put out fires), and also learned a lot about the milling and weaving process for cotton. Very neat! This site was also where some friends got married, and the wedding was beautiful! The upstairs room at the Slater Mill is a beautiful wedding site, and it had windows with great views of the fall leaves. I'd recommend visiting Slater Mill for sure. :) read more

Have you driven through Pawtucket thinking, "what a dump, there's nothing to see here"? Well, give Slater Mill a try. It's an important American History site right downtown in Pawtucket. It's a nice attraction to add to a day trip around RI. read more

Went here for a wedding, never knew they had this beautiful, enormous room for functions. The set up is rustic looking, you enter through the museum (which they had open during the wedding party to view with staff there for any questions). The staff at the museum was so helpful entertaining the kids and showing them how everything works. The venue is upstairs, you enter through glass doors and there are half walls in between each area. They were able to have the ceremony, the tables, and the dancing all in the first area, then you walk a little further where the bar was set up, next area was for all the food. There were white lights streamed across the ceiling, they were able to bring their own food, bartender, alcohol, decorations, etc. Slater Mill just provided the room, with all hardwood floors (only caveat to that is no one is allowed to wear regular heels). There was plenty of parking, a nice area in front that had all stonework with seating for those that wanted to get some fresh air. Great wedding venue for something unique and affordable. Was disappointed that the elevator was broken for weeks so it was tough for those that needed to use this, also, they do only have 2 bathrooms so there was a line frequently. read more

Pros: Surrounded by beautiful scenery. Cons: I didn't feel like the paid tour was necessary after viewing the free video in the visitor's center. read more

We went on a field trip today, and with the exception of Mr. Jay and Ms. Amanda, the other presenters were fairly rude and obviously don't know how to properly engage grade school children to keep them interested and content. It's a shame that a place with such a wealth of knowledge can really turn off a child's interest so easily due to poor presentation. read more

Went to Slater Mill for the first time (I live in Providence) because of out of town visitors. I was very glad that we did go here. It's a very informative tour about the history of the Blackstone Valley, life in the industrial era, and the history of Rhode Island. Tour was about 2 and a half hours, so it was very in-depth. Guides are super helpful in answering questions and demonstrating the machines. Do ask for directions for exiting, as it is easy to get into Pawtucket, but confusing to get out! read more