Introduction to Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in Providence county, is 37 miles SW of Boston, Massachusetts. Pawtucket is the fourth largest city in Rhode Island and is one of the few cities in the United States which has a significant Liberian population. Hasbro, a major manufacturer of toys and games has its headquarters in the city. Pawtucket is home to numerous industries, including jewelry, silverware, textiles and metals. It was a major factor during the Industrial Revolution and includes a large number of historic sites. The municipality is a cultural and arts center for the region.
Pawtucket History
The city was established in 1671. Pawtucket had a prominent role in the industrialization of the country. In 1793 Samuel Slater built a facility for spinning cotton yarn. Slater Mill is regarded as the origin of industry for the nation. Pawtucket had a thriving textile industry and numerous machine shops and iron works facilities. Over time, it became an important manufacturing center.
Pawtucket Attractions
- The annual Arts Festival occurs in September
- Riversing is a popular musical event
- The Pawtucket Red Sox is a minor league baseball team associated with the Boston Red Sox
- Hollywood Walk of Fame is dedicated to the movies made in Pawtucket
- Gallery Flux showcases contemporary art
- Museum of Work and Culture focuses on the immigrants who worked in the mills
Pawtucket Historic Sites
Pawtucket has a large number of historic locations including Slater Mill which is regarded as the birthplace of industry in the United States. The site also includes the notable Sylvanus Brown House and the Wilkinson Mill which showcases a 19th century machine shop. Visitors also have an opportunity to see operating textile machines from the early days. The nearby Slaterville Village Green is regarded as one of the oldest mill villages in the nation and includes homes from the Colonial era.
The Dagget House features notable antiques such as Colonial pewter from the Revolutionary War and china formerly owned by General and Mrs. Nathaniel Greene. The Modern Diner was the first diner in the country to be included in the National Register of Historic Places. It's a Sterling Streamliner, which were constructed during the late 1930's as well as the early 1940's. Other noteworthy historic sites include:
- John E. Adams House
- Bridge Mill Power Plant
- G.A. Burnham House
- Lorenzo Crandall House
- Division Street Bridge
- Fuller House
- Pawtucket Elks Lodge Building
- Louis Kotzow House
- Main Street Bridge
- Mitchell-Arnold House
- Nathaniel Montgomery House
- Pawtucket City Hall
- Liberty Arming the Patriot
- Pawtucket Times Building
- Quality Hill Historic District
Pawtucket Activities
Families enjoy Slater Memorial Park which includes a variety of recreational areas and features the oldest operating Looff Carousel in the entire world, which is included in the National Register of Historic Places. Dagget Farm offers horse riding lessons, pony rides, beautiful floral gardens and opportunities to see a variety of farm animals. The Pawtucket Country Club is popular for golfing.
Visitors enjoy the riverboat tours along the Blackstone River Valley. Ferry boat tours along the Providence Harbor and Narragansett Bay are popular with tourists. The nearby Blackstone River Bikeway is a scenic rail trail. The close by Onley Pond features beautiful granite boulders and opportunities for canoeing.