FREE Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor THE GET LOST GUIDE Exploring the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor THE GET LOSTGUIDE Welcome ................................................................................... 2 What is this Place? ..................................................................... 4 The How-to-Get-Lost Centers (Visitor Centers)........................... 8 The Getting Lost Bucket List...................................................... 9 Where to Get Lost ................................................................... 10 • Amusements ............................................................... 11 • Animals & Botanicals ................................................... 14 • Art & Entertainment .................................................... 15 • Museums & Historic Sites ............................................ 20 • Outdoor Pursuits ......................................................... 26 Immersion Shopping ............................................................... 32 Wicked Good Eating ................................................................ 42 • Eateries & Scooperies .................................................. 43 • Breweries & Wineries ................................................... 67 Where to Crash ....................................................................... 68 Lose It at the Farm .................................................................. 72 • Farms .......................................................................... 73 • Farmers Markets ......................................................... 76 Seasonal Get-Lost Opportunities ............................................. 78 Tours ...................................................................................... 82 Colleges and Universities ........................................................ 95 Service Organizations ............................................................. 96 Just in Case ............................................................................. 98 Blackstone Heritage Corridor Map ......................................... 100 A publication of assp Blackstone Heritage rk P ort Corridor, Inc. Pa Ins ee ide 670 Linwood Ave. r ! Whitinsville, MA 01588-2068 F 508-234-4242 We make every effort to be certain that all the information in the Get Lost Guide is accurate and current but assume no obligation for errors or omissions. Visitors are advised to check times and charges to avoid disappointment since we cannot be responsible for changes or cancellations. No portion of this Get Lost Guide may be reproduced Blackstone River Valley without written permission from National Historical Park Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc. ©2017 Blackstone River Valley PASSPORT BOOK National Heritage Corridor, Inc. [email protected] BlackstoneHeritageCorridor.org Graphics by Angell House Design Printed by Sheahan Printing EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™ Tour the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and collect all six of the Passport stamps! (see pp. 46-55.) WELCOME | 3 Welcome to the Blackstone Valley! Bienvenu á la Blackstone Vallée! Bienvenido a la Blackstone Valle! So you’ve picked up our Get Lost Guide and you’re asking yourself, “Can someone really get lost in the Blackstone Valley?” The answer is unequivocally, “Yes!” Get lost in a 70-foot chasm whose boulder caves keep ice well into the summer (p. 26 ◆). Lose your sense of time sketching the incredible architecture of the finest example of Georgian Colonial style in the U.S. (p. 6 ◆). Leave the rest of the world behind as you and your kayak explore a quiet marsh teeming with life (p. 23 ◆). Lose yourself in the neighborhoods of the second and third largest cities in New England, with their culture, arts and eateries. And there’s much more! It’s all here in the amazing Blackstone Valley – the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution - so significant for its history and natural resources that it was named a National Heritage Corridor. We welcome you to come and get lost in our world for a weekend or a week. You’ll keep coming back for more! WHAT IS THIS PLACE | 5 Auburn, MA i Ϣ William Blackstone was the first European to Settled in 1714, incorporated in 1778 settle and live in Cumberland. Area: 16.4 sq. mi. Ϣ The Nine Men’s Misery is the oldest Veterans Ϣ Includes the villages of Pakachoag and Stoneville. Memorial in the country. During King Phillip’s Ϣ Home of Robert Goddard, American Father War, nine Colonial soldiers were held prisoner by of Modern Day Rocketry, who launched first the Narragansett warriors and killed at this site. liquid-fueled rocket from Pakachoag Hill on March 16, 1926. Douglas, MA i Ϣ Originally incorporated as the town of Ward, but Settled in 1721, incorporated in 1746 changed the name to Auburn in 1837 because Area: 37.7 sq. mi. the Post Office complained the name was too Ϣ Includes the village of East Douglas. similar to the town of Ware, MA. Ϣ Due to its vast forests, Douglas had a major What is this place? woodcutting industry, as well as the famous Our National Heritage Corridor Blackstone, MA i Douglas Axe Company. Settled in 1662, incorporated in 1845 Ϣ E. N. Jenckes Store and Museum is a good The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley Area: 11.2 sq. mi. example of a typical New England country Includes the villages of East Blackstone, National Heritage Corridor is: Ϣ store from the 19th century. Chestnut Hill, and Waterford. Ϣ The dramatic two-state park (MA/RI) at East Providence, RI i Ϣ The Birthplace of the American Industrial Blackstone Gorge is accessed at the end of Settled in 1641, Incorporated as a town in 1862 Revolution and the first water powered County St. in Blackstone where hikers can walk and as a city in 1958 cotton mill in the country (p.7)◆. the cliffs 80 feet above the Blackstone River. Area: 13.4 sq. mi. Ϣ A remarkably intact landscape of Ϣ At one point, half of the population of Ϣ Includes the villages of Phillipsdale and Rumford. industrial history, immigration and Blackstone was Quaker. Ϣ Roger Williams originally settled in Rumford diversity of culture in New England. until the Plymouth Colony claimed it for Ϣ The first stronghold of tolerance in New Burrillville, RI i themselves, forcing Williams to move on to England – a place of religious and ethnic Settled approximately 1662, incorporated what is now the city of Providence. in 1806 The town common, also referred to as “The Ring of diversity (p. 7)◆. Area: 55.6 sq. mi. The National Heritage Ϣ Ϣ An interconnected system of waterways Corridor’s largest community. the Green,” was founded by Samuel Newman and his followers in 1643; the Newman Congregational and wetlands that have been reclaimed Ϣ Some of the villages include Glendale, for their natural beauty, wildlife and Harrisville, Mapleville, Nasonville, and Church still stands there today and is the oldest Congregationalist church in Rhode Island. recreational opportunities. Pascoag. Ϣ Famous Rhode Island author H.P. Lovecraft Ϣ Home to the Blackstone River, an Glocester, RI American Heritage River, that runs 46 set a part of his short story “The Horror at Red i Hook” (1925) in the village of Pascoag. Settled in 1639, incorporated in 1731 miles and drops 438 feet on its journey Area: 54.8 sq. mi. Ϣ Every day at 5 p.m. the town whistle goes off at Includes the villages of Chepachet, Harmony south. the Oakland-Mapleville Fire Department. Ϣ Ϣ Twenty-five cities and towns in and West Glocester. Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Central Falls, RI Ϣ The second elephant to arrive in the United i States, Betty, the Learned Elephant, was including the second and third largest Incorporated as a town in 1730 and as a city cities in New England, united by the in 1895 murdered during a parade in Chepachet in 1826. Ϣ Home to the Ancients and Horribles Parade that Blackstone River Watershed and totaling Area: 1.2 sq. mi. The National Heritage Corridor’s smallest community. has occurred every Independence Day since 1926. 556 square miles. Ϣ Although Central Falls is the smallest city in Each Corridor community is a great place Rhode Island, it is the most densely populated. Grafton, MA i to visit. The following is a little teaser Ϣ For a time, Central Falls was known as Settled 1718, incorporated 1735 of what a visitor will find. Learn more Chocolateville. Area: 23.3 sq. mi. interesting facts about each city and town Ϣ Some of the villages include Farnumsville, at BlackstoneHeritageCorridor.org. Cumberland, RI i Fisherville, Centerville and Saundersville. Settled in 1635, incorporated in 1746 Ϣ Originally inhabited by the Nipmuc Tribe, Area: 26.8 sq. mi. the Hassanamisco Reservation is a State- Ϣ Includes the villages of Ashton, Albion, recognized Reservation still used today. Lonsdale and Valley Falls. Ϣ The Bandstand in the Town Common was built in 1934-1935 for the movie, “Ah, Wilderness!” WHAT IS THIS PLACE | 7 Hopedale, MA i Millbury, MA i Pawtucket, RI i Upton, MA i Settled in 1660, incorporated in 1886 Settled in 1716, incorporated 1813 Settled in 1666, incorporated in 1871 Settled in 1728, incorporated in 1735 Area: 5.3 sq. mi. Area: 16.3 sq. mi. Area: 8.7 sq. mi. Area: 21.7 sq. mi. Ϣ Includes the villages of Hopedale Village and Ϣ Some of the villages include Armory, Ϣ Some of the neighborhoods include Quality Hill, Ϣ Includes the village of West Upton. White City. Bramanville and West Millbury. Oak Hill, and the Slater Park Neighborhood.