News Release
D. Lawlor
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Contact: Eric Breitkreutz, 401-725-8638
Check out all of the exciting things that have been happening at Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and Roger Williams National Memorial and look ahead at what to expect for the rest of the summer and fall.Roger Williams National Memorial Celebrates 60 Years
This year, Roger Williams National Memorial celebrates the 60th year of its establishment by Congress.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, . . . for the purpose of establishing thereon a national memorial to Roger Williams in commemoration of his outstanding contributions to the development of the principles of freedom in this country.
Explore our website and visit us in 2025 for special cancellation stamps, stickers, post cards, banners, and programs that honor American heritage.
New Junior Ranger Book at Roger Williams National Memorial
We’re proud to announce the completion of a brand-new Junior Ranger Activity Book for Roger Williams National Memorial—our first in many years!
Created in collaboration with the talented artist MJ Robinson, the book is now complete and will soon head to print.
This engaging activity book features a variety of hands-on exercises designed to spark creativity, encourage reflection, and make learning about history fun and meaningful. Junior Rangers of all ages will explore the legacy of Roger Williams while fostering a sense of stewardship of our shared cultural and natural heritage.
Express Yourself
Join us for Summer Songwriting Sessions at Roger Williams National Memorial with R.I. Music Hall of Famer Mark Cutler. Create original songs, be part of our community, and enjoy your lunch on the grounds of the memorial. No prior experience required—people of all ages and abilities are welcome.
These artsy workshops will be hosted on the third Thursday of the summer months (August 21 and September 18), from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM.
Here’s a song that was written by visitors in 2020:
Talking About Roger Williams
Roger Williams National Memorial offers free, ranger-guided programs about the remarkable legacy of Roger Williams and his contributions to the principles of freedom in America.
These 30-45 minute talks are a great way to learn about the separation of church and state.
The National Memorial is proud to offer these interactive, educational programs Thursday through Sunday at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM. These programs will end on October 26, 2025.
The Hahns of Providence: A Memorial Legacy
Park staff and partners are making great progress on a project about the Hahn family of Providence, Rhode Island.
Isaac Hahn, the son of immigrants, opened a store on Westminster Street in Providence in 1870. In 1884, he was elected to the RI State House of Representatives, making him the first Jewish person elected to public office in the state’s history. Isaac's son, J. Jerome Hahn became a justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
In 1929, Jerome Hahn purchased a plot of land and donated it to the people of Providence in memory of his father. This was the first act of stewardship of the land that was to become Roger Williams National Memorial. If you have visited the park, the formal garden with the historical well is the Hahn Memorial. That’s right – there's a memorial inside of a memorial. It marks a truly special place in American history.
The National Park Foundation awarded the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association a grant to conduct research and create educational materials that tell the story of this amazing family. Over the winter, researchers scoured historic documents. Currently, the first drafts of exhibits, books, websites, and other media are being produced by local researchers.
Stay tuned for more information on this amazing history and opportunities you’ll have to explore the finished products.
NPS/Breitkreutz
The Great American Outdoors Act Funds Waterpower System Work
On July 28, 2025, divers came to Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park to examine the Slater Mill Dam and river retaining walls. The divers documented the river retaining wall and dam structural systems to get a better sense of the engineering behind the historic raceway headgate and tail races. Using underwater lighting, cameras, and microphones, the divers narrated what they saw in real time. Their recordings and documentation will assist hydraulic engineers in putting together proposals for repairs to protect the waterpower system. The goal is to ensure that the waterpower system in place serves the restored Wilkinson Mill’s mid-breast waterwheel and protects the site against flooding and other issues.
This work - and other projects at the park - are funded through The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). On August 4, 2020, GAOA was signed into law and established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). To commemorate the anniversary of the historic law, the U.S. Department of the Interior named August 4th Great American Outdoors Day. Entrance fees were not charged on August 4, 2025, in celebration of the Great American Outdoors Act's anniversary. Everyone is encouraged to visit parks to experience the benefits of GAOA projects.
Thanks to GAOA LRF, much-needed maintenance for critical facilities and infrastructure in our national parks is being undertaken by skilled people throughout the United States. The Wilkinson Mill restoration and preservation project is a local example of GAOA funding critical work in Blackstone River Valley NHP.
NPS/Schultz
Raceway Bridge to be Rebuilt this Fall
The bridge across the Slater Mill and Wilkinson Mill Raceway is slated to be rebuilt later this summer. The project is projected to begin on September 8, 2025, and will continue through at least mid-October 2025. The non-historic bridge is being replaced to improve the safety and accessibility of the site.
Window Repair at Old Slater Mill
Facilities staff are hard at work at both parks this summer! This month, additional preservation projects repairing Old Slater Mill's first floor windows are well underway.
This project includes the preservation of the windowsills and the restoration of the window sashes. The National Park Service's Historic Architecture Conservation and Engineering Center (HACE) is working on replacing the windowsills, and park maintenance staff members are working on the restoration of the window sashes. In order to complete the project, park staff remove the sash from the window, replace damaged glass panes, reglaze, and paint. Windows are a key architectural element of historic mill buildings like Old Slater Mill. This work helps ensure the long term stability and preservation of these architectural features.
Hendrickson
Ranger Walkabouts
Ranger-led walks in the Blackstone Valley continue through August 28, 2025.
Walkabouts begin at 6:30 PM and last for approximately one hour.
August 14 – Community and Change in Berkeley
Location: 30 Martin Street, Cumberland, RI
What happens when a mill community changes ownership? Join a ranger and members of the community for a guided walk through Berkeley, a Cumberland mill village. Discover how this village has adapted to change and continued to foster and strengthen community and learn about the history of this mill village. Meet in front of the Berkeley Mill complex. Limited free parking is available to participants at the Berkeley Oval (baseball field) just down the road.
August 21 – Roger Williams National Memorial 60th Anniversary Celebration
Location: 282 N. Main St., Providence, RI
Roger Williams National Memorial is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. This year’s National Memorial walkabout will showcase some of the amazing research we’ve done about the creation of the historical well and gardens. Learn about the “memorial within a memorial,” first donated by J. Jerome Hahn, in memory of his father, Isaac Hahn, the first Jewish person elected to public office in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association will be there to help tell this amazing story.
August 28 – Remaking a Landscape
Location: 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI
Old Slater Mill, America’s first cotton-spinning mill, still stands along the Blackstone River, a reminder of Pawtucket’s industrial past. But the landscape that surrounds the mill has been remade numerous times over the last 232 years of the mill’s existence. On this tour we will use historic photographs, maps, and archeological findings to discover how this landscape has evolved from a rural landscape to an industrial center to a landscape marked by the effects of Urban Renewal. Please note this is not a tour of the interior of Slater Mill, but participants wishing to see the interior will be able to do so after the tour concludes.
NPS/Mello
Fishing Fun at the Park
This summer, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park hosted a Fish & Feathers Intern. The Fish & Feathers summer internship program is funded by the National Park Service and administered by Environment for the Americas.
Fish & Feathers interns bring fishing, birding, and other recreational activities out to communities while gaining experience working at a park. This year, the Park’s Fish & Feathers intern was Sofia Hazarika, a student at Skidmore College majoring in Environmental Studies. Sofia has been an invaluable member of the team since her arrival early this summer. She has managed weekly fishing and birding programs, attended outreach events, and worked closely with partners, including the Friends of the Blackstone. These programs have reached more than 700 people. A special thank you to Sofia for all of her hard work this summer!
Join us on Sunday, August 24, 2025, from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM for our annual Take Me Fishing Day at the Blackstone River State Park. This program, hosted in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is a great way for people new to fishing to catch their first fish. Free bait and equipment will be available. The program is free and open to all. Meet at the Kelly House Barn, 1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI.
Hendrickson
Interns Bring Fresh Perspectives to Park
The Park was lucky enough to add three new members to our team this summer.
Connor Bausman, a senior at the University of Rhode Island (URI), worked with us in June. His passion for the National Park Service and public lands was demonstrated in several projects, including a presentation on Camping Basics for Blue Star Families and helping to facilitate bird walks and fishing programs. He also presented original research at one of our Ranger Walkabouts and helped to staff the Old Slater Mill Visitor Contact Station. Connor’s favorite national park (besides Blackstone River Valley NHP) is Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
Maya Jerosh, a recent graduate of Bridgewater State University, brought a fresh perspective to our interpretive programs at the Park. Maya worked with staff in the Old Slater Mill Visitor Contact Station and helped ensure visitor safety on our Ranger Walkabout programs. Maya is completing research which she will present during our last Walkabout of the year, “Remaking a Landscape,” on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 6:30 PM (hosted at Old Slater Mill, 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI). Maya's favorite book, besides Landscape of Industry: An Industrial History of the Blackstone Valley, is All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.
Diego Rodriguez is interning with us through a partnership with Environment for the Americas. He completed a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL. He is now completing a Master's degree in Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University. Diego is pursuing a career as an environmental consultant. He became interested in the internship because he wants to bring a strong focus to community-level environmental initiatives and education, something he hopes to continue to promote as a core element of urban environmental planning in the future. Diego will be working at the park through at least the end of October. He enjoys the outdoors and animals (particularly birds) of all kinds, but his favorites are owls, particularly the Burrowing owl.
A special thank you to Connor, Maya, and Diego for their hard work and dedication this summer.
Hendrickson
Special Labor Day Weekend Tours
Celebrate Labor Day by joining us on a special guided tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 - 45 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us.
Saturday, August 30, 2025
10:30 AM: Not Child’s Play: The Story of Slater Mill
Join a Park Ranger as we discuss the stories of the children who were the first workers at Old Slater Mill.
12:30 PM: The Cotton Economy
Join a Park Ranger and learn about the close connections between the labor of enslaved peoples and the textile industry of the Blackstone River Valley.
2:30 PM: Women’s Work: Labor History at Old Slater Mill
Join a Park Ranger for a discussion of the intersection between women’s history and labor history and Old Slater Mill.
Sunday, August 31, 2025
10:30 AM: The Birthplace of America’s Working Class
Join a Park Ranger for a discussion of the importance of Old Slater Mill and the birth of the American working class.
12:30 PM: The Cotton Economy
Join a Park Ranger and learn about the close connections between the labor of enslaved peoples and the textile industry of the Blackstone River Valley.
2:30 PM: Human and Machine
Join a Park Ranger for a deep dive into the collection of historic machinery at Old Slater Mill and the people who worked those machines.
Please note: Old Slater Mill is closed on Labor Day (Monday, September 1, 2025)
Graham
Songwriters and Labor Day
Join Allison Rose and J. Michael Graham for an afternoon of acoustic music along the Blackstone River! This free program will be hosted on the grounds of Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark, located in Downtown Pawtucket.
Songwriters at the Mill is part of the annual Pawtucket Arts Festival.
Special thanks to the National Park Service and the City of Pawtucket.
Free admission and family friendly! Please bring your own chair or blanket. Limited seating available.
National Night Out
On August 5, 2025, Park staff participated in National Night Out 2025 at Payne Park, located in Pawtucket, RI. This night of free entertainment and games featured the Pawtucket Police Department, Pawtucket Fire Department, and many other community organizations. Park staff interacted with 152 local residents. Special thanks to the Public Works Department of Pawtucket for the setup and takedown.
NPS/Horrocks
Revolutionary Roundup
New Activity Page
July 4, 2026, will mark 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was written in the summer of 1776. The National Park Service joins the nation in the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by asking all visitors to consider the continued task of making a more perfect union.
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park has a new activity page for anyone who is curious about the history of revolutionary rebels, soldiers, and ordinary workers who lived in the Blackstone Valley more than 200 years ago. For days or even months, soldiers left their homes in the Valley to fight the war, leaving others behind to maintain businesses, farms, homes, and the fraying fabric of their communities.
The activities focus on the Revolutionary Junior Ranger webpage offer options for exploring the history that comes just before the American Industrial Revolution. You will also find a list of heritage sites connected to the Revolution that you can explore along the way.
Once you have completed the activities, you may write to us at the park to receive a special Revolutionary Junior Ranger sticker.
America 250 Pension Transcription Event
On July 16, 2025, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park hosted a transcription event for the Revolutionary War Veteran’s Pension Transcription project in partnership with the North Smithfield Heritage Association. This national project is a collaboration between the National Park Service and the National Archives, and is part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026.
Pension applications can contain important details about the lives and service of some of our nation’s first veterans. During the event, rangers gave a presentation on the importance of these pension records, as well as the stories of local Revolutionary veterans from the Blackstone River Valley. Rangers also offered a training on how to transcribe these records for the National Archives.
Al Menard, pictured here, transcribed the pension of James Brayton, a solider from Smithfield, Rhode Island. You can see Brayton's file and Menard's trascription here.
If you would like to book a transcription program, please reach out to Ranger Allison Horrocks at e-mail us.
Revolutionary Events in the Valley
Stay informed about local programs. The Blackstone Heritage Corridor has a website dedicated to special America 250 events.
NPS/Horrocks
A Special Thanks to Kevin Rice!
Kevin Rice, the Management and Program Analyst for Blackstone River Valley NHP and Roger Williams NM worked his last day (for now) with the National Park Service on August 1, 2025.
Since 2021, Kevin has been an integral member of our team, performing important behind-the-scenes work, the type of labor that might be less visible, but is essential to keep our operations running. For the past few years, Kevin has been a great force for change in the Blackstone River Valley, working closely with our partners to ensure both natural and cultural resource preservation.
Before Kevin came to the Blackstone Valley, he served the agency at a number of locations. He is an example of the power of parks. As an intern for the Essex National Heritage Area, Kevin worked with collections at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site and Salem Maritime National Historic Site. As an employee, Kevin observed turtle hatchlings headed to the Gulf of Mexico at Padre Island National Seashore, traveled to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, and even created award-winning cardboard kayaks for competitions at Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Kevin was also a vital administrator for staff at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Site, Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Site, Springfield Armory National Historical Park and Coltsville National Historic Site.
Although he will be sorely missed, he is not going far. Kevin will continue to work in the Valley as the Finance and Program Manager for the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative. We all wish Kevin the best of luck with his new position.
Last updated: August 8, 2025