Lowell National Historical Park
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes that began here still reverberate in our shifting global economy. Explore Lowell, a living testament to the dynamic human story of the industrial revolution.
About under an hour from Boston and 1.5 hours from Providence by car.
Alerts
- InformationNo Public Morning Trolley Runs on Select Dates
Due to scheduled education programs, the trolley will not be offering public runs on the following mornings: 10/13, 10/14, 10/15, 10/20, 10/27, 10/28, 10/29, 11/6, 11/12, 11/19, and 11/20
Fire nearby
- PrescribedConcord A12 Rx
40 mi from the park's reference point · 12 acres
Within 50 miles, as of 2026-10-14. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Check the park's alerts and the managing office before you drive.
Hours
| Lowell National Historical Park | Daily · 9:00AM - 4:00PM |
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow | 9:00AM - 4:00PM |
| Oct 18 to Nov 28, 20262026 Fall Season (October 18 - November 28, 2026) | 9:00AM - 4:00PM |
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving | Closed |
| Nov 30, 2026 to Mar 31, 20272025-26 Winter Season (November 30, 2025 - March 31, 2026) |
|
| Dec 24, 2026Christmas Eve | Closed |
| Dec 25, 2026Christmas Eve and Day | Closed |
| Jan 1, 2027New Years Day | Closed |
| Apr 1 to May 2, 20272026 Spring Season (April 1, 2026 – May 2, 2026) |
|
When to go
July draws the most visits here and February the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
Introductory exhibits about Lowell National Historical Park, tour reservations, and information about local lodging and dining. 246 Market Street, Lowell MA 01852.
- Boott Cotton Mills Museum ↗Passport stamp
Don't miss the roar of 85 operating power looms! The Boott Cotton Mills Museum includes a recreated 1920s-era weave room, historical artifacts, interactive exhibits and video programs about the Industrial Revolution and the people of Lowell.
No campgrounds, no fee schedule or webcams in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
Things to do
- Explore the Boott Cotton Mills Museum30-120 Minutes
The Boott Cotton Mills Museum at Lowell National Historical Park is the best place to learn about Lowell’s industrial past. Explore the stories of the workers, engineers, inventors, and investors who made Lowell the first successful planned…
Opens on the Park Service site - Become a Lowell Junior Ranger30-180 Minutes
Participating in the Junior Ranger Program is a fun way for young visitors to get the most out of their visit to Lowell National Historical Park. Free activity books can be picked up at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John Street).
Opens on the Park Service site - Earn an Acre Community Ranger Badge30-120 Minutes
Learn their stories, become a Community Ranger! Community Rangers are neighborhood storytellers and caretakers. Using the free Community Ranger activity book, you can explore the historic Acre neighborhood.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit the Park Store at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum
Looking 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.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- Step into History Walking Tour10/1410:00 AM · runs through Oct 17 · freeThis tour begins at the Park Visitor Center (246 Market Street). Validated parking is available at the Hamilton Canal Innovation…
- Suffolk Mill Tour10/1402:00 PM · runs through Oct 16 · freeThis tour meets and ends at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St.) Paid parking is available in the Joseph Downes city…
- Late Night at the Museum: Lowell's Night Sky10/1504:00 PM · freeThis program takes place at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St.).
- 01:00 PM · freeLocated at 600 Suffolk Street, the Suffolk Mill Exhibit is inside the Wannalancit Mills building.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
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Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for New England
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
All 14 activitiesHide
Weather & climate
Summer: Throughout the summer, temperatures range from the mid 60s to mid 90s during the day, with rain and thunderstorms more common in the months of July and August. Boats and trolleys operate rain or shine and are only cancelled in cases of extreme weather or the presence of thunder and lightning. Winter: Winters are typically cold with temperatures in the mid 30s and 40s (with occasional single digit temperatures) and snow storms with a few inches accumulation occur frequently throughout the season.
Questions people ask
What are the hours at Lowell?
Standard hours are 9:00AM - 4:00PM, every day. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Lowell right now?
1 active alert as of October 14, 2026: No Public Morning Trolley Runs on Select Dates.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Lowell?
102,540 recreation visits in 2025, number 216 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Lowell?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the weather like at Lowell?
Summer: Throughout the summer, temperatures range from the mid 60s to mid 90s during the day, with rain and thunderstorms more common in the months of July and August. Boats and trolleys operate rain or shine and are only cancelled in cases of extreme weather or the presence of thunder and lightning.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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