Boott Cotton Mills Museum115 John Street
Hours of OperationThe Boott Cotton Mills Museum is open daily from 12 noon to 5 p.m. 
James Higgins Information DeskThe Information Desk is the perfect place to start your visit to the Boott Cotton Mills Museum. Talk to a park ranger to learn more about the museum and to purchase your ticket (prices below). This is also where you can purchase an America the Beautiful Parks Pass and sign up for tours. The Boott Cotton Mills Museum also has its own passport stamp, which you can find here. Museum Entry Prices*: Adults - $6.00 Seniors (62+) - $4.00 Youths (6-16) - $3.00 Students (16+ with ID) - $4.00 Children (5 and under) - FREE *Museum prices can be discounted if you have an America the Beautiful Parks Pass, or if you purchase a package deal which includes a boat tour. 
NPS Weave RoomPast the Information Desk lies one of the museum’s highlights: an expansive weave room packed with over eighty historic power looms from the 1920s that is still weaving cotton cloth! Experience just a fraction of what Lowell’s mill girls and immigrant laborers would have seen, heard, smelled and felt when they worked in the mills. Talk with our friendly and knowledgeable weavers to learn more about the making textiles. 
James Higgins Museum ExhibitsLowell: Visions of Industrial America ExhibitThe main exhibit at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum, Lowell: Visions of America covers Lowell’s history from the time it was known as East Chelmsford in the 1700s through the modern day, with a focus on Lowell’s time as a leading innovator and economic center in the American Industrial Revolution. Oral history videos highlight real mill workers’ experiences in these factories, and interactive activities let you try your hand at making thread and cloth! A park ranger or volunteer is always available on the second floor to answer questions offer talks about Lowell history. 
Lewis Hines Child Labor: Documentary Photography and the Quest for Reform ExhibitThis exhibit centers on the work of two photographers, Lewis Wickes Hines and Dr. David L. Parker, who documented the injustices of child labor to bring attention to the children's plight. Hines images, captured in the early 20th century, highlight child workers across America. Dr. Parker's images reflect the international experience of child workers in the 1990s. Taken all together, the images convey the severity and extent of this global problem. 
Library of Congress What's New About the Past: The 19th Amendment and Lowell ExhibitOpened in summer 2020 in honor of the centennial anniversary of the 19th amendment, the newest installation of the Park's What's New About the Past series traces the history of suffrage activism in Lowell from the early 1900s to current campaigns for expanded voting access and equity. Explore the stories of Massachusetts women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote. 
Library of Congress Acropolis of America: The Greek Community of Lowell 1974-2020 ExhibitThe “Acropolis of America” exhibit documents the role the city of Lowell played in the history of Greek immigration as the home of the third-largest Greek population in America. From fewer than 10 Greeks in 1880, the city’s population grew to a thriving community of 35,000 by 1925. They worked in mills, ran grocery stores, and helped each other through the Great Depression. Despite urban renewal in the Greek Triangle neighborhood, the community remained strong as evidenced by churches, a full-day school, businesses, festivals, and several social and cultural organizations. This exhibit was developed by students at UMass Lowell. Wheels of Change FilmWhile the Boott Museum focuses its attention on Lowell and its cotton mills, the Wheels of Change film looks at the larger national picture. This 22 minute film covers the first 100 years of the American Industrial Revolution, highlighting Lowell’s role while also looking at what came before and after. The film is played every half hour. The Wheels of Change Theater is temporarily closed. 
NPS Park StoreLooking for a guide to the park's history and culture? Searching for an educational souvenir of your visit to Lowell? Start your search at the Park Store. America's National Parks, the park's cooperating association, operates on the first floor of the Boott Cotton Mills Museum. A portion of America's National Parks' proceeds are returned to the park. ParkingThe Boott Cotton Mills Museum is a 10 minute walk from the Visitor Center (246 Market Street) and the National Park Service parking lot (304 Dutton Street). If you would like to park closer to the museum, parking is available for a fee at city garages or on metered street parking.Disability designated parking spaces are provided in the city parking garage at 75 John Street. The garage has a hight limitation of 6' 8" for vehicles. Vehicles that display disability license plates or a hanging placard may also park at no cost in and designated parking space within the City of Lowell. AccessibilityFor Visitors With Mobility Impairments:The Boott Cotton Mills Museum is fully accessible. A wheelchair loan is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and is free of charge. Inquire at the National Park Service information desk for more information.Service dogs are welcomed throughout the Park, on tours and in all facilities. For more information about service animals, please refer to the ADA service dog guidelines. For Visitors With Hearing Impairments:A variety of written information is available in the Boott Cotton Mills Museum information desk. All films throughout the museum feature captions. Please ask a staff member for more information.Places to Go |
Last updated: December 10, 2020
