Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park in Rhode Island, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-29. Check linked official notices before travel.

Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park tells the story of industrial change across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Begin at Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket, then choose another site. The park is a set of places, rather than one continuous visitor complex.

Highlights

Old Slater Mill combines exhibits, a short introductory film, and ranger tours. A second focus is the canal landscape around the Kelly House Museum in Lincoln. One introduces mill work, while the other explains changing transportation.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Safety and changing conditions

Old Slater Mill tours change or cancel when the heat index exceeds 87°F. Rangers instead offer a shortened, 10-minute talk with brief access to the main mill area. For emergencies anywhere in the valley, call 911. Local communities provide emergency services across many properties outside NPS ownership.

Visit responsibly

Ashton Mill Village can be viewed on a walk from the state park, but its buildings are closed to the public. Most are private homes. Respect residents' privacy and follow applicable state and local rules at each stop.

Programs and group visits

For school visits or a special group tour of Old Slater Mill, contact the park about its education arrangements. A regular tour schedule does not establish availability for a private group.

Maps, location, and access

Start at 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860. The official places-to-go guide separates the park sites. For Blackstone River State Park and Kelly House, use 1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI 02865. These addresses serve different destinations.

Nearby parks

From the Pawtucket starting area, Lincoln Woods State Park offers another road-accessible destination at 2 Manchester Print Works Road in Lincoln. Roger Williams National Memorial is at 282 North Main Street, Providence, reached from I-95 Exit 38.

Things to do

At Slater Mill, allow time for the exhibits and introductory film as well as a tour. Junior Ranger books and park maps are available there. Check the site-specific schedules before combining an indoor mill visit with the Kelly House museum.

At the state park in Lincoln, follow the canal-side waysides and visit the pollinator garden. The grounds also connect with the bikeway. In winter, the bike path is not cleared of snow, so snow and ice affect a walk or ride.

Facilities and accessibility

Slater Mill has wheelchair-accessible parking, entrances to the visitor center and mill tour, and wheelchairs to borrow. Its introduction film has captions. ASL interpretation or captioning requires at least 14 days’ notice and depends on interpreter availability. Review the official accessibility arrangements before requesting support.

The Kelly House area is a separate facility situation: restrooms and drinking water are currently unavailable. Carry water for a walk there.

About the park

Industrial history

The national historical park was established on December 19, 2014. Its subject reaches much further back. Slater Mill, built in 1793, was a successful water-powered cotton-spinning mill. The exhibits place industrial innovation alongside the lives and labor of the people who worked in the valley.

Contact

Use the official national historical park website for current programs. Call 401-725-8638. The Pawtucket contact address is 67 Roosevelt Avenue, RI 02860.