Valley U.S. Department of the Interior National Historical Park

Dear Friends –

Welcome to the first newsletter for your new Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. As of December 19, 2014, Blackstone became the 402nd unit of the National Park Service. What an accomplishment! Thank you to everyone who made this park a reality. The National Park Service is honored to be able to tell the story of “the Birthplace of America’s Industrial Revolution,” here, in the .

While the park has been legislatively established, there is still some work to do. First and foremost, the National Park Service (NPS) is working on drawing the park boundary. We are meeting with state government agencies, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, stakeholders, community members and volunteers to help us define this boundary. We would love your input and hope to hear from you.

Though we don’t yet have an official boundary, NPS Rangers are out in the Valley this summer. We have rangers supporting summer camps, giving Walkabouts, attending events, and meeting visitors at important sites. We are working on publishing outreach materials and Jr. Ranger books. National Park Passport stamps will be coming soon!

On behalf of all of us that have the honor to work for the NPS, we appreciate your support in our mission to create a world-class National Park in the Blackstone River Valley. I’m excited to be on this journey with you.

Sincerely, Meghan Kish Meghan Kish Superintendent Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park Meet the Staff

Meghan Kish is the Superintendent for Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and Roger Williams National Memorial. Meghan is meeting with key stakeholders to discuss the creation of a park boundary, where to commit staff expertise and time, and how to promote the existence and mission of the new park. She is excited and honored to be part of the Blackstone team. Meghan has an office at the Depot in Woonsocket as well as in New Bedford, MA. She can be reached by email at [email protected].

Jennifer Smith serves as the Management Assistant for both Roger Williams National Memorial and Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. She is responsible for supervision, general operations, cooperative agreements, communications, and community planning initiatives. Jennifer splits her time between an office in Providence and the Depot in Woonsocket. She can be reached by email at [email protected].

Chuck Arning is an Interpretive Park Ranger/AV Specialist and has worked for the National Park Service in the Blackstone River Valley for 22 years. Chuck has been the lead on the very successful Along the Blackstone cable television series and will continue to support the operations of the new park using his skills in writing, videography, interpretation and building partnerships. Chuck’s office is at the Depot in Woonsocket, and he can be reached by email at [email protected].

Kevin Klyberg is an Interpretive Park Ranger who has been with the National Park Service for 18 years, all at Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Kevin has worked extensively with valley partners on interpretive training, development of curriculum-based education programs and front-line delivery of interpretive programs as well as serving as the park’s web and social media coordinator. Kevin’s office is at the Depot in Woonsocket and he can be reached by email at Kevin_ [email protected].

Michelle Spink is the Administrative Officer for Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park as well as New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and Roger Williams National Memorial. Michelle describes her role as taking care of the business side of the house. She focuses her work on budget, human resources, procurement, contracting, and IT. Michelle’s primary office is in New Bedford but, like all of the shared staff of the park, she also spends time at our Woonsocket office. Michelle can be reached by email at [email protected].

Cara Pearson iis a Visual Information Specialist for Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and Roger Williams National Memorial. Cara is the coordinator for the NPS Centennial initiative across the three parks, is working with staff to design outreach materials for the new park, and is the lead on the new park brochure as well as this newsletter. Cara spends most of her time at her office at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and can be reached by email at [email protected].

1 e pik 90 rn To Lowell National Tu Historical Park s 95 tt se u NEWTON h ac Northborough ss Ma 122 190 495 Sudbury 9 Reservoir To Boston Paxton 290 A Brand New Park 122 Southborough Lake A Cochituate Indian 30 WELLESLEY 9 128 Lake Assumption College 12 SHREWSBURY What is in the Park Boundary? NATICK MOOSE HILL 56 FRAMINGHAM UMass WILDLIFE WORCESTER Medical Center Regatta Point 90 NEEDHAM MANAGEMENT American Antiquarian Society State Park 135 Worcester AREA Old Leicester Worcester Polytechnic Institute Art Museum 9 We are currently working on determining the boundary. What we can Airfield Becker College Westborough Worcester Historical Museum 20 Worcester Elm Park Worcester EcoTarium 140 tell you is that the legislation passed on27 December 19, 2014 states that: Regional Mechanics Hall Mass. College Airport State College Lake City Hall of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Coes Union Ashland 16 9 Station Quinsigamond Tufts University • Blackstone River State Park; and 9 Becker College Reservoir State Park School of Veterinary Medicine 95 (Leicester Campus) Clark University 122 12 Cherry College of the • the following resources, as described in Management Option 3 of the study Valley Holy Cross Dover Burncoat 30 Pond Leicester Visitor Willard House Sherborn Q and Clock Museum entitled ‘‘Blackstone River Valley Special Resource Study—Study Report 2011’’: Center u Broad Meadow Brook i n 126 LEICESTER Wildlife Sanctuary s ig North Grafton a 495 Hopkinton Cedar Meadow Quinsigamond m o • Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark District Pond Village n B d l t G a e rea 90 Whitehall e t c R Westwood C GRAFTON tr e k da i Reservoir S r S s v w t e a o in m r a 27 p n Stoneville M • Slatersville Historic District e 56 12 Hassanamisco t 109 Grafton Common UPTON es 290 Reservation W MILLBURY STATE AUBURN FOREST Holliston Auburn Indian • Ashton Historic District R Armory Village 16 Rochdale iv Burying Ground e Millbury r 290 Old Millbury SEC. 3031. BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK. 122 (a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to establish the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park— NORWOOD Common P& (1) to help preserve, protect, and interpret the nationally significant resources that exemplify the industrial heritage Medfield 90 W of the Blackstone River Valley for the benefit and inspiration of future generations; R a (2) to support the preservation,85 protection, and interpretation of the urban, rural, and agricultural landscape features e 20 il (including the Blackstone River and ) of the region that provide an overarching context for the industrial heritage of the • Whitinsville Historic District ik ro Blackstone River Valley; np Bramanville a UPTON ur d Farnumsville (3) to educate the public about— T 395 West Upton (A) the nationally significant sites and districts that convey the industrial history of the Blackstone River s 56 Valley; and ett West Wilkinsonville 122 Upton us A (B) the significance of the Blackstone River Valley to the past and present of the ; and h ac Millbury (4) to support and enhance the network of partners in the protection, improvement, management, and operation of ss Saundersville related resources and facilities throughout the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. 1 a 146 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: M • Hopedale Village Historic District (1) NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR.—The term ‘‘National Heritage Corridor’’ means the John H. Chafee Blackstone Millis B Singletary Fisherville la 140 River Valley National Heritage Corridor. To Springfield c (2) PARK.—The term ‘‘Park’’ means the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park established by subsection Pond ks (c)(1). Armory National to (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior. Historic Site n (4) STATES.—The term ‘‘States’’ means— 126 e Upton (A) the State of Massachusetts; and Rockdale (B) the State of . R State Forest (c) BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.— • Blackstone River and the tributaries of Blackstone River 20 iv (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the States a unit of the National Park System, to be known as the Sutton e r ‘‘Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park’’. 12 (2) HISTORIC SITES AND DISTRICTS.—The Park shall include— (A) Blackstone River State Park; and 109 Walpole JOHN H. CHAFEE (B) the following resources, as described in Management Option 3 of the study entitled ‘‘Blackstone River e ik Valley Special Resource Study—Study Report 2011’’: p Ch Medway rn Northbridge MILFORD arles Tu Sutton Riverdale ail Center W • Blackstone CanalR r Tr Charlton State Forest The Little Red Shop ive ne SUTTON e kli 27 s un al t Draper Mill Tr r Purgatory Chasm NORTHBRIDGE nt d Ce State Park Plummer’s Landing lan Hopedale ng Plummer Corner E d)

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140 Park Legislation o

ew p R West o

Whitins Lookout White City N (pr

i v n Oxford West Sutton Pond 122 Hill er

Rock e Click image to download or h ut r Dam 16 HOPEDALE o Whitinsville ProposedS Map of Sites visit: go.nps.gov/BLRVlegislation495 1A Whitin Machine Works Goat Hill Lock Mendon Waters Farm Blackstone River 395 Linwood and Canal Heritage e Manchaug State Park pik 90 Lackey rn To Lowell National Tu

Rogerson’s Village Historical Park s 95 Manchaug Pond tt se NEWTON Manchaug Mills Crown & Eagle Mill u Pond Nipmuck ch sa 95 Blanchard Northborough as North Uxbridge M

Pond 122 190 495 Sudbury 9

r Quarry Reservoir To Boston e Rivulet Cornet John Farnum House

v Bellingham 140

i Paxton 290 Southborough Lake R Village 122 East Wheelockville A Cochituate

d MENDON 30 WELLESLEY r Indian Douglas fo 16 9 128 d Mum Lake FRANKLIN a Capron Park M 140 Assumption o Uxbridge r College SHREWSBURY l 12 NATICK i i 56 E.N. Jenckes Store Museum 16 P MOOSE HILL l FRAMINGHAM a 146 & Quissett Hill Wildlife l UMass WILDLIFE WORCESTER Medical Center Regatta Point R W 90 NEEDHAM Whitin ManagementMANAGEMENT Area American Antiquarian Society State Park Lake 135 Worcester W Reservoir R AREA Old Leicester Worcester Polytechnic Institute Art Museum 9 Pearl Foxboro & a Becker College Airfield 20 Westborough Wrentham P i Worcester Historical Museum l Worcester Elm Park 140 DOUGLAS r Regional Worcester EcoTarium 27 o Daniels Farm State College Mechanics Hall Mass. College Airport of Pharmacy and Lake a R City Hall Health Sciences d Union Quinsigamond 16 i Coes Station Tufts University Ashland Douglas Quaker v Quinsigamond Becker College Reservoir 9 School of Veterinary Medicine 95 Chestnut Hill 9 e State Park Meeting(Leicester Campus) Clark University 122 16 r 12 Meeting House Cherry 126 College of the Valley Holy Cross Dover House Burncoat 30 Pond Leicester Visitor Willard House Sherborn STATE Center Q and Clock Museum Dudley Webster u Broad Meadow Brook i n 126 LEICESTER Wildlife Sanctuary s i North Grafton East Blackstone g a 495 Hopkinton BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY m Cedar Meadow r Quinsigamond Friends Meeting House o Lake Pond e Village n DOUGLAS B MILLVILLE d v l t Gr i a Whitehall e ea 90 e t c R Westwood 122 C GRAFTON tr e R k 121 Chaubunagungamaug d i Reservoir S a v BLACKSTONE r s S w t e a o in 7 mp r a 27 UXBRIDGE n FOREST Stoneville M

THE LAST GREEN VALLEY s e 56 12 Millville r Hassanamisco t Mansfield 109 UPTON s Triad Bridge te 290 Reservation Grafton Common e e W P MILLBURY STATE MASSACHUSETTS AUBURN Ironstone FOREST Mammoth Holliston 146

Auburn Indian 98 Blackstone R Armory Village 16 140 A Mill Ruins Rochdale iv Burying Ground e CONNECTICUT Millbury r 1A Millville Lock 290 Old Millbury 122 P NORWOOD Common &W Medfield W 90 R a 85 Richardson Farm Blackstone ke 20 ilr a pi World War II Bramanville o NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR rn ad Farnumsville UPTON l Tu Ballou Cemetery West Upton 495 l Gorge 395 tts 56 122 u e State Park West Upton Coldus Wilkinsonville A MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTS ch and Meeting House m Bi-State sa Millbury as Saundersville 1

146 RI M Spring Site Millis Round Top Park Fisherville B RHODE ISLAND Park Singletary la 140 To Cape Cod Fishing Area To Springfield Blackstone Heritage Pond ck MASS 197 Armory National st Plainville L o National Historic Site Corridor Office ne 126 a Upton l BUCK HILL Harris Hall Rockdale i k R State Forest Seashore ra 20 i e v T BLACK HUT Slatersville DiamondSutton Hill State Park e 12 r ne 98 Diamond Hill 109 Walpole li Woonsocket Falls k ) MANAGEMENT Centennial Park ke n d Forestdale pi 114 MILFORD Charles Medway e rn Northbridge ru s Tu Sutton ReservoirRiverdale ail o MANAGEMENT Center W Directions r T AREA R r T p Charlton State Forest The Little Red Shop ive ne WOONSOCKET e i o SUTTON kl 27 r Slatersville s un p al t Draper Mill Tr ( r Purgatory Chasm NORTHBRIDGE Union Friends Meeting t Diamond Hill en Plummer’s Landing nd d Reservoirs C State Park gla House Hopedale En ) n Plummer Corner To River Bendd Farm in

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ut E BURRILLVILLE r i Dam 16 HOPEDALE o Lake 146 Bla 120 Whitinsville S R 104 c Nasonville k 495 1A w A s Whitin Machine Works ArnoldGoat Hill Lock Mills Mendon ATTLEBORO 146 to exit for Mass. 16. e Wilson to Cumberland N 5 n Waters Farm Blackstone River Reservoir 395 e Hill Linwood and Canal Heritage Follow Mass. 16 east to 146 Manchaug Lackey State Park n Rogerson’s Village r h Manchaug Pond White Mill Park R Crown & Eagle Mill e c Pond Manchaug Mills Nipmuck Mass. 122. Take Mass. 122 Harrisville n Manville Blanchard 95 i North Uxbridge

h a Pond 122 r t r v Quarry e Rivulet Cornet120 John Farnum House

v Bellingham 140 B i u e north and turn right onto The Assembly R Village Wheelockville o East Bridgeton r rd Stanley Woolen Mill MENDON S Albion Douglas fo 16 NORTH SMITHFIELDd m Mu FRANKLIN

a Capron Park M 140 Bridgeton Car Barn o 126 Uxbridge Hartford Avenue. Turn r CUMBERLAND Fort Wildlife Refuge l Bridges i i E.N. Jenckes Store Museum l Oakland 16 P a 146 & l 104 Quissett Hill Wildlife R W West Whitin Management Area Lake right onto Oak Street. Pascoag W Reservoir R Pearl Foxboro & a 295 123 Wrentham i P l Thompson AlbionDOUGLAS r Daniels Farm 102 o Primrose a R The farm is on the left. Woonsocket d GEORGE i Pascoag Douglas Quaker v Lake 7 e Chestnut Hill Meeting

16 r

Reservoir Meeting House 126 Reservoir Mapleville House Sucker Blackstone STATE River WASHINGTON Dudley No. 3 Webster Pond State Park East Blackstone To Museum of Work and Friends Meeting House r Lake DOUGLAS MILLVILLE e v 122 i Chaubunagungamaug R 121 BLACKSTONE MANAGEMENT NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR FOREST 7 UXBRIDGE 1 ATTLEBORO Culture in Woonsocket: 114 Millville rs Mansfield Triad Bridge te Kelly House Ashton e MASSACHUSETTS P 116 The MonasteryIronstone 146 Mammoth Take R.I. 146 to exit for 98 A Blackstone Mill Ruins 140

CONNECTICUT CONNECTICUT AREA Quinnville Millville Lock 1A

Casimir Pulaski Lime Rock Preserve W Bryant Richardson Farm Blackstone R.I. 104. Follow R.I. 104 CONNECTICUT a Berkeley World War II l Ballou Cemetery 495 l Gorge u State Park Memorial State Park College Lime Rock MASSACHUSETTS 123 Cold and Meeting House m Bi-State G Spring RI Round Top Park Site 44 Bowdish north for two miles.

RHODE ISLAND Park To Cape Cod

Blackstone Heritage MASS Fishing Area 197 Quarry r Plainville North Gate Toll House L Corridor Office National Hawkins l BUCK HILL a e Slatersville Harris Hall Reservoir rai k Seashore T e Diamond Hill State Park a BLACK HUT Museum is on right at 42 e 98 Pond lin Ann & Hope Mill Woonsocket Falls Diamond Hill k d) t MANAGEMENT Centennial Park 95 114 un se Forestdale Reservoir Tr o MANAGEMENT p AREA WOONSOCKET Chepachet ro Slatersville South Main Street. LINCOLN p ( Union Friends Meeting Diamond Hill West d R William Blackstone MemorialReservoirs Park n o House a 100 102 Village l r g AREA a Job Armstrong Store n Spring e NORTH Glocester E BURRILLVILLE Blackstonev River Theatre 123 i d Lake 146 Bla 120 Stillwater Great Road R 104 c Nasonville k Brown and Hopkins Country Store w A st Arnold Mills ATTLEBORO e Wilson Lonsdale o Cumberland Acotes Hill N 5 n Historic District e To Blackstone River State Reservoir Hill 5 146 n r h White Mill Park c R e Harrisville Valleyn Falls Marsh Manville 44 h a i 122 DURFEE HILL Scotstun t r v 120 B e Park Visitor Center: Stillwater u The Assembly o Bridgeton r Smith-Appleby Town Forest S NORTH SMITHFIELD Albion MANAGEMENT 116 Bridgeton Car Barn Fort Wildlife Refuge 126 Bridges CUMBERLAND Reservoir House Valley Falls ValleyOakland Falls Heritage Park 104 West Take I-295 north. Visitor Pascoag 295 123 AREA Smith and Sayles Thompson 102 Albion Central Primrose Woonsocket Lake GEORGE Pascoag 7 Georgiaville Pierce Park and Riverwalk ReservoirBlackstone River center is located on I-295 Reservoir SaylesvilleReservoir Falls Mapleville WASHINGTON Sucker No. 3 State Park Phillips Farm SMITHFIELD Pond Landing Pond d Ashton between exits 9 and 10 in MANAGEMENT 114 1 ATTLEBORO a Kelly House Jenks Park and Cogswell Tower 116 o Spragueville AREA The Monastery r Quinnville Lincoln, R.I. l Ponaganset Harmony Casimir Pulaski Bryant Lime Rock Preserve i CONNECTICUTGeorgiaville Berkeley Memorial State Park CENTRAL FALLS College Lime Rock 123 a GLOCESTER G 44 Bowdish Reservoir North Gate Toll House Quarry r R Waterman West Hawkins ReservoirJ&P Coats Mill Complex e Keech Pond a Ann & Hope Mill 295 t 95

Greenville Chepachet LINCOLN

W William Blackstone Memorial Park Pond 102 Reservoir West Ro To Blackstone Valley Glocester Job ArmstrongSlater Store Mill a Blackstone River Theatre & 123 Brown and Hopkins Country Store Stillwater Great Road d P Lonsdale Acotes Hill 5 Historic District Valley Falls MarshVisitor Center in Paw- DURFEE HILL Scotstun 44 Stillwater Slater Park Town Forest 114 Smith-Appleby MANAGEMENT Reservoir 116 Valley Falls Valley Falls Heritage Park House Lincoln Woods State Park tucket: From I-95 north Greenville AREA MoshassuckSmith and Sayles Pawtucket Central W Reservoir Georgiaville Saylesville Falls Pierce Park and Riverwalk Pond 15 River Town LandingPhillips Farm SMITHFIELD Landing Powder d take exit 28. Turn left Killingly RHODE ISLAND a o Jenks Park and Cogswell Tower

Alexander o Spragueville

r o Mill Ledges l Ponaganset Harmony 44 i Georgiaville CENTRAL FALLS Pond a n Reservoir GLOCESTER Lake R West onto School Street. At Wildlife Refuge Waterman J&P Coats Mill Complex a Keech PAWTUCKET 295 S Greenville W s Pond 102 Reservoir

& Slater Mill q e

P

first light, go straight u 146 e 114 Slater Park Slack a k Greenville Moshassuck Pawtucket W t 44 o Powder 15 River Town Landing through intersection and Killingly RHODE ISLAND o Alexander u Reservoir Mill Ledges o 44 Pond North Burial n n 101 102 Lake c

Wildlife Refuge a PAWTUCKET k k s S 101 Ground q e down the hill. At next u e e Providence 146

Slack a k Rhode Island R t 44 o t Reservoir u

101 College 102 North Burial n

c i k light, turn right onto

101 k Ground College v e Providence

Blackstone 114 Rhode Island R t College e College i Blackstone v 114 A e Park r RooseveltA Avenue. Visitor Park r 5 5 PROVIDENCE PROVIDENCE 6 R Roger Williams National Memorial 6 395 Roger Williams National Memorial6 i R v Rhode Island center parking44 lot is the e Waterplace Park John Hunt House 395 6 N School of Design i r v o Rhode Island / Brown University 44 S e Waterplace Park John Hunt House R.R. Station o John Brown House 44 Historical resources included in the new M first left. From I-95 south N School of Design r 195 a R.I. Historical Society Library in o S Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park: Brown University t /S o John Brown House 44 India Point Parktake exit 29. Bear right North Blackstone River, Blackstone River State Park R.R. Station M 195 10 a R.I. HistoricalScituate Society Library P EAST and the Blackstone River Bikeway, Old Slater Mill i ro onto Fountain Street, then n Reservoir v S id 295 1 e PROVIDENCE all elements in the new Slatersville Historic District t n 195 14 c right onto Exchange Street. India Point Park e Blackstone River Valley Ashton Historic District E 5 95 R 2 a 14 i National Historical Park v At light take left onto Whitinsville Historic District e To Cape Cod s r National Seashore Hopedale Village Historic Distric 10 t Scituate P EAST Roosevelt Avenue. Visitor Blackstone River ro B Bikeway Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Centers: Reservoir v a id y center is on the right at Pawtucket Visitor Center 295 1 e PROVIDENCE 195 14 n B the end of the block. 0 1 5 Kilometers c i Lock Kelly House/Blackstone River State Park e k e Museum of Work and Culture p 95 R 0 1 5 Miles River Bend Farm State Park 5 i a 14 v t Information Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center at Worcester e h To Cape Cod r National Seashore What's Happening in the New Park?

Planning the New Park with our Community Partners National Park Service (NPS) time to sit down and start and will, with NPS staff, staff is visiting sites and the planning process! develop preservation meeting with a variety of recommendations to meet partners, including Rhode To help make this process the Secretary of Interior’s Island Department of go smoother, and to lend Standards for Historic Environmental Management, expertise to our mill village Preservation. Old Slater Mill Association, partners, the park has and the leadership from the brought on an intern from the Look for stakeholder meetings mill villages named in University of Pennsylvania’s in the fall, both Rhode Island the park legislation. graduate programs in city and and Massachusetts, to discuss These meetings are focusing regional planning and historic this the planning process and on what the new park’s preservation. Jessica Neubelt to answer any questions the boundary will look like. is currently researching public has about the new park. Many thanks to all the historic districts and historic Meeting dates and locations partners for taking the commissions in the mill villages will be announced soon.

Blackstone Summer 2015 Ranger Walkabouts Our first summer as a National way for people to find the the story of the Blackstone Historical Park and Rangers “hidden gems” of the valley. Valley is America’s story. Check are already offering great Since 1997, NPS Rangers our website for details: nps. programs to introduce the have been conducting free gov/blac. public to park sites! Each public programs throughout Thursday evening this summer, the Blackstone Valley. These a Park Ranger explores a stories cover the mill villages different perspective of of the valley, the Underground America’s journey towards Railroad, the Canal, ice cream industrialization.Walkabouts socials, and even the Bikeway. kick off at 6:30pm on There is something for Thursdays and are a great everyone! Come discover how

Summer Camp Fun What’s summer without camp? Mass Audubon and National The National Park Service Park Service, together we were is pleased to introduce an able to create a rich historical exciting partnership with our and environmental field trip wonderful environmental experience at Blackstone River partners, Mass Audubon State Park- including a trip on at Broad Meadow Brook the 40 passenger Blackstone Wildlife Sanctuary and the Explorer. Thanks to all our Rhode Island Department of partners for making this pilot Environmental Management. project a success! With matching funds from

3 Coming Soon!

National Park Service Centennial

While the Blackstone River America's national parks. The Valley NHP is brand new, the NPS staff will continue to National Park Service is turning engage communities through 100 years old in 2016. The recreation, conservation, and NPS Centennial celebration historic preservation programs. has already begun and will Visit findyourpark.com to learn continue through the end about all of the different ways of next year. The Centennial that you can participate in the is both a celebration of our Centennial celebration. Look work for the past 100 years for great Centennial programs and a start of a second coming your way soon! century of stewardship of

National Park Service Centennial Challenge Award

park and our relationship with the Blackstone Heritage Corridor. It will also allow us to produce videos to let folks from around the world get a peek at the new park. Finally, we are working together to create a new Junior Ranger program that will help introduce the wonders of the The Blackstone River Valley materials for the new National Blackstone River Valley to National Historical Park is Historical Park. our younger visitors and their excited to be one of the first families both in person and recipients of the the National The purpose of this project virtually. Park Service’s Centennial is simple; now that the Challenge program. These Blackstone National Historical The Centennial Challenge funds were matched by the Park exists, we need to let program is a $26 million Blackstone Heritage Corridor, people know about it! This initiative that will help over Inc. Together, the partners funding will allow us to create 100 parks prepare for visitors are creating new outreach, new materials and a small during the National Park educational, and interpretive display to talk about the new Service’s Centennial in 2016.

“Ticket-to-Ride” Transportation Grant Bringing schools to parks with educators to connect the can be challenging - due in “landscape of industry” with no small part to the cost of their curriculum. transportation. However, thanks to the National Park The Innovation & Technology Foundation and the generosity Academy at Doherty High of Disney, transportation is School in Worcester, MA is no longer a barrier in getting a great example of the park our youngest visitors out into working with educators to the valley. Roll those buses! A develop field trips that meet good field trip experience is curriculum guidelines. Field built on strong relationships Trips to the Slater Mill Historic between the park and the Site, the Blackstone Canal, schools. Fortunately, while the Captain Wilbur Kelly the park is new, the historic Transportation Museum and landscape that tells the story historic Slatersville help bring of America’s journey towards the academics to life for these industrialization is not and NPS young minds. Rangers have worked closely

4 A Model in Partnership

New National Park Cements Ties with Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc. Transitions are always a educational institutions, working with Blackstone little confusing, so it is and residents to preserve Heritage Corridor, Inc. to understandable if the and promote the Valley's define this new and exciting relationship between the historic, cultural, natural relationship as we build Blackstone River Valley and recreational resources on the past successes and National Historical Park and for current and future investments of the National the Blackstone River Valley generations. Recently, Heritage Corridor and embark National Heritage Corridor Congress expanded the upon on telling the story appears to be a bit muddled. Corridor boundaries to of industrialization in the In addition to having similar include the Town of Auburn Blackstone River Valley. names, the Heritage Corridor in Massachusetts and was affiliated with the several neighborhoods in National Park Service for 26 Providence, Rhode Island years and managed by had a including the Jewelry District, Federal Commission. Downtown Providence, and the Woonasquatucket River Today, the Heritage Corridor Corridor. is managed by Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc., a The new unit in the National 501-(C)(3), nonprofit that Park System, the Blackstone works in partnership with River Valley National Historical state, municipal, and federal Park, actually fits within the agencies, as well as local Heritage Corridor boundaries. businesses, nonprofits, Park staff will continue

Look What’s Coming....

National Park Passport Stamps One of the most popular Mill, Blackstone Valley Visitor activities for visitors to Center in Pawtucket, the National Park Service sites is Kelly House in Blackstone the “Passport to your National River State Park Visitor Parks” program. You can Center in Lincoln and at park collect a passport stamp from headquarters in Woonsocket, every National Park that you RI. We will add additional visit. Passport stamps will soon stamps as the park’s official be available for Blackstone boundaries are established. River Valley National Historical The stamps will state which Park. Initially, these stamps site you visited - see if you can will be available at Slater collect them all!

Contact Us

Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park

Meghan Kish One Depot Square Superintendent Woonsocket, RI 02895 [email protected] 401-762-0250 508-996-4095

nps.gov/BLRV Volunteer information contact: Facebook.com/pages/ Kevin Klyberg Blackstone-River-Valley- Park Ranger National-Historical-Park [email protected] 401-762-0250

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