Visitor Centers

Finding your way around the Blackstone Valley and figuring out what sites you want to see can be a difficult task. To help you out, the Heritage Corridor Commission has helped to create a network of seven Visitor Centers across the Blackstone Valley, as well as dozens of other sites where you can pick up visitor information.

 

Roger Williams National Memorial
282 North Main Street
Providence, RI 02903
401-521-7266
www.nps.gov/rowi

The Roger Williams National Memorial commemorates the life of the founder of Rhode Island and a champion of the ideal of religious freedom. Williams founded the new colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in 1636. This colony served as a refuge where all could come to worship as their conscience dictated without interference from the state. The Memorial is located on a common lot of the original settlement of Providence, and celebrates our Freedom of Religion as first proclaimed by Roger Williams and now set forth in the First Amendment of the Constitution. The memorial is set upon 4.5 acres of landscaped park and includes several interpretive exhibits about Roger Williams and his time, including a short film. Open Daily 9-4:30.

Directions:
From I-95 north, take exit 23 State Offices. Take a left at the light and follow to the end of Orms Street, at the light take a right onto Charles Street. Continue straight through one light, then take a quick left into memorial lot.

From I-95 south, take exit 23, Charles Street. Take the first left and continue through three lights; after the third light take a quick left into memorial lot.

 

Blackstone Valley Visitor Center
175 Main Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860
401-724-2200
www.tourblackstone.com

Located across the street from historic Slater Mill the Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday, 10 - 4, Sundays 1-4, except the four major holidays. You can also view the award-winning film “Hidden in the Blackstone Valley”. This 20 minute feature tells the story of the rise and fall of the textile mill industry on the Blackstone River and the role it played in setting the American Industrial Revolution in motion.

Directions:
From I-95 north, take exit 28. Turn left onto School Street. At first light, go straight through intersection and down the hill. At next light, turn right onto Roosevelt Avenue. Visitor Center parking is the first left.

From I-95 south, take exit 29. Bear right onto Fountain Street, then right onto Exchange Street. At light, take left onto Roosevelt Avenue. Visitor Center is on the right at the end of the block. Parking in rear.

 

Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center
Interstate 295 North
Lincoln, RI 02895

Located on Interstate 295 North, in-between Exits 9 and 10, the Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center is open twenty four hours a day. Along with tourist information, the Visitor Center also provides facilities and concessions, as well as a State Police satellite office. The Visitor Center is also directly linked to the Blackstone River Bikeway and provides access to the Blackstone River State Park which includes the Blackstone River, the historic Blackstone Canal and the Captain Wilbur Kelly House Transportation Museum via a half mile bikeway link.

Directions
The Visitor Center is located on Interstate 295 North, between exits 9 and 10.

 

Museum of Work and Culture
42 South Main Street
Woonsocket, RI
02895 401-769-9675
www.rihs.org

The Museum tells the story of the immigration and labor experience of the Blackstone River Valley, and provides visitor information for the entire region. It is open weekdays 9:30 am to 4:00 pm; Saturdays 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; and Sunday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Directions:
Take Route 146 North or South to the Route 104 Exit. Follow Route 104 North about three miles into downtown Woonsocket. At South Main Street, turn right. At second light, turn right into Museum parking lot.

 

River Bend Farm
287 Oak Street
Uxbridge, MA 01569
508-278-7604
http://mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/blst.htm

River Bend Farm Visitor Center is located in a 1,000 acre state park along the Blackstone River Canal and towpath. The Visitor Center is part of the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park; offering walking and hiking paths, canoe access, picnic and wildlife watching areas. It is open year-round, seven days a week, during daylight hours.

Directions:
From Route 122 in Uxbridge, turn east onto East Hartford Avenue, proceed one mile, take a right onto Oak Street. Center is a red barn down the street on the left.

 

Worcester Historical Museum
30 Elm Street
Worcester, MA 01609
508-753-8278
www.worcesterhistory.org

The Worcester Historical Museum is a unique organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting Worcester's history in all time periods and subject areas. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Directions:
Take Route 146 to I-290 toward Worcester to Exit 17. Turn left on Belmont Street/Route 9 West. At the fifth set of lights turn left onto Lancaster Street. At the third set of lights (on the corner of Linden and Pleasant Streets), turn left onto Pleasant. At the end of the block turn left onto Chestnut Street. The museum is the last building on the block on your left. Limited free parking is available immediately behind the museum. Walk around to front entrance on Elm Street.

 

Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary /
Mass Audubon Society
414 Massasoit Road
Worcester, MA 01604
508-753-6087
www.massaudubon.org

Broad Meadow Brook is the largest urban sanctuary in New England. There are over 300 acres of woods, fields, streams and marsh areas to explore. It also provides visitor information for the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Trails are open every day, dawn to dusk. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday, 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm.

Directions:
From the Mass. Turnpike (Rt I-90): Take exit 11 (Millbury) and go left onto Rt 122 north. Turn left onto Rt 20 west. Turn right at the traffic light onto Massasoit Road.

From Route 290, take exit 14 (Route 122 south/Grafton Street). Bear right at the rotary and stay on Route 122. At intersection, bear right onto Massasoit Road. Follow Massasoit Road past playground and park on left Sanctuary entrance is located five houses past the park on the right.