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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

There Is A Lot to Like About Lowell -- Lowell National Historical Park

"There is A Lot to Like About Lowell" is the city slogan.
(See tab on right side called "Lowell Series" for many more articles about Lowell.)



LOWELL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK



Visitor Center
On June 5th of this year, the Lowell National Historical Park (LNHP) will be 37 years old. I wasn't living here at the time it was established (having left 4 years earlier, when the unemployment rate was at 12%) and unfortunately didn't get to see the many changes until I returned to the city in 1994. Every day there are still old buildings being renovated and huge plans are in the works for improved changes for the city. The city of Lowell, individuals who bought dilapidated mills and the LNHP are all doing their part to make Lowell a better city for the future.

This Visitors Center isn't something I like, it's something I love. I am there frequently either asking questions, looking at updated programs, or chatting with people I know, who are there as well. This is where you learn about all the places the Park Service maintains, such as the Mill Girls and Immigrants Exhibit (my post), the canal boat tours and trolley tours, the many miles of walkway along the canals, the Boott Cotton Mills Museum and more.
Map shows our two rivers, the Merrimack and the Concord, and many man-made canals.



Children love this trolley and have their
own area to play and learn.



Theater (above) where you can view a film about the history of Lowell.

"On June 5, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed legislation dedicating $40 million to the creation of Lowell National Historical Park. It was a move that saved the city’s historic downtown."Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Representative Paul E. Tsongas are also shown. Paul Tsongas was from Lowell.

Typical of a genealogist, I tried to find more information. One of the more interesting things I found was a daily log of all of President Carter's activities for the above day. When he met for the signing Wednesday morning between 7:55 - 7:59, there was just enough time for a photo and the signing. The actual page may be seen HERE.

*More information about the LNHP may be seen HERE.
Entrance to the LNHP.
Books about Lowell, including the most recent (Oct. 2014) called, Mill Power. I purchased it the day after it's release. My husband read it, and I've looked at the many photos.




There are two entrances. Above is on Market Street and below is on Dutton Street (where you can park, see photo at bottom of parking area).