Frequently Asked Questions

Are reservations required for park tours?
Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made by calling 978-970-5000 during the Reservation Office's regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (daily during summer, Monday - Friday in the off-season). Find the rest of the park's hours and seasons here.

Where can I park in Lowell?
Parking is available in the Visitor Center Parking Lot (see next FAQ) as well as in numerous muninciple garages located within walking distance of park sites.

How do I get to Lowell National Historical Park?
GPS: Use "304 Dutton Street Lowell, MA"

To drive to Lowell National Historical Park, take the Lowell Connector from either Route 495 (Exit 35C) or Route 3 (Exit 30A if traveling southbound, Exit 30B if traveling northbound) to Thorndike Street (Exit 5B). Follow "National Park Visitor Center" signs. Free parking is available in the Visitor Parking Lot next to Market Mills.

Commuter rail service via MBTA is available from Boston's North Station to Lowell's Gallagher Terminal. Lowell Regional Transportation Authority shuttles run between Gallagher Terminal and downtown Lowell every half hour, Monday through Friday, 6:00 am - 6:00 pm and Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Comprehensive directions and addresses for the park are here.

Is Lowell National Historical Park the first/oldest urban National Park in the country?
No. There are numerous urban National Parks that were created prior to Lowell in 1978. The first "urban park" designation is often credited to Rock Creek Park in suburban Washington, D.C., transferred to the National Park Service in 1933.

Lowell National Historical Park is unique in that it was the first urban national park of its kind. The park has a distinctive legislative mandate to support the preservation, protection and interpretation of historic buildings and cultural resources throughout the City of Lowell, including areas outside the official Park boundary. Lowell represented a new approach to national park design when it was conceived and legislated in the 1970's. More detailed information is available under park reports.