Boott Cotton Mills Museum
115 John Street
Lowell MA 01852
Date/time visited: Saturday, May 3rd at 1:00pm
Bathrooms: Yes
Parking: Yes
Cost: Adults $6, children $3, children under 5 free
Hours: Open daily 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Handicap accessible: Yes
Lowell is rich in history, and the Boott Cotton Mills Museum is the perfect place to learn about Lowell’s industrial past. Did you know that Lowell was the first successful industrial city in the United States?
Boott Mills was established in 1835 to manufacture cotton and woolen goods, and it was an integral part of the Industrial Revolution. It’s really cool that we live so close to such an important part of our country’s history, and that our children can visit and learn from these places.
The first exhibit is a fully functional weave room with power looms from the 1920s.
Demonstrations of the looms are given throughout the day, and we were shown and taught how the looms worked and what life was like for the mill workers back then. This was my kids’ favorite part. A park ranger told us all about how the mill girls used to have to wear cotton balls in their ears in an attempt to drown out the intense noise of the looms as they didn’t have ear plugs or headphones back then. A staff member demonstrated 17 power looms at once for us, and it was very loud.
The room holds over 80 looms today, and held even more back then. It was an eye opening experience to learn of the tough working conditions the mill employees faced back then, and it was really interesting to take a step back in time and learn what it was like to work in the mills.
Throughout the museum there are several interactive exhibits for kids to enjoy. They can practice weaving, learn how to card cotton, and see and feel actual fabrics created by the looms.
The museum holds actual items from the mill days that you can see up close. You can also see old photographs and newspapers, outfits worn back then, and so much more. You can even visit where the boarding houses were for the girls that worked in the mills.
Boott Cotton Mills Museum is an impressive preservation of history that my family and I really enjoyed experiencing! It is one of many Lowell museums I recommend checking out.
Holly O'Blenis is a mom of three who loves finding new, exciting things to do to create a fun, happy childhood for them! She is an avid reader and crafter who loves the outdoors.
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