Slater Mill Historic Site

One of the best tours I’ve ever been on. I’ve visited the area dozens of times over the last 20 years with this place on my list but didn’t get to take the tour till today.
The tour was excellent. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides took us through the three structures with enough detail to satisfy the inquisitive and not overloading the more mildly interested.

Went to Slater Mill for the first time (I live in Providence) because of out of town visitors. I was very glad that we did go here. It’s a very informative tour about the history of the Blackstone Valley, life in the industrial era, and the history of Rhode Island. Tour was about 2 and a half hours, so it was very in-​depth. Guides are super helpful in answering questions and demonstrating the machines. Do ask for directions for exiting, as it is easy to get into Pawtucket, but confusing to get out!

Excellent presentation!
We were able to your several buildings on the property. Our tour guide even turned on the water mill for us. Everyone was quite knowledgable and prepared.
Children may grow antsy, but the guides do a good job tailoring to them.
Worth a visit for sure!

Pros: Surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Cons: I didn’t feel like the paid tour was necessary after viewing the free video in the visitor’s center.

The best historic site interpretation I’ve ever seen. Friendly and engaging guides. The mills come to life. I was originally interested in going to see the historically accurate garden. Going there deepened my understanding of child labor and early machinery profoundly. A unique experience to hear, smell and touch history.

This is another place that I believe that any American with an interest in industrial history would love. Definitely spend the money and take the tour. The docent I had was extremely informative. On the tour, you’ll visit the 1810 Wilkinson Mill bldg, a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark which holds the «workshop» and mill wheel. In the Slater Mill bldg, you’ll see some of the working machines used in the cotton spinning industry during the period. As an added incentive, this site is now part of the National Parks Service Blackstone River Valley.

I’ve been three times in my life and would go again. Nice museum and I could watch the water wheel all day long. I enjoy the flax demo.

Slater Mill was undergoing some repairs when I visited. I guess the repairs will be finished by the end of June or July.
There are three buildings there. There’s the Slater Mill, the Wilkinson Mill, and the Sylvanus Brown House. Parking is free for visitors.
I went on a tour. They have a continuous tour where you pay at the desk, and then you link up with wherever the tour is, and stay as long as you want.
It was very interesting to learn about all the tools and machines that people invented to manufacture textiles. Some of these old machines are still in use today in some third-​world countries.
In the Sylvanus Brown house we learned about what a household was like hundreds of years ago. Did you know pewter plates contain lead? I didn’t.
They mention some famous inventors like Eli Whitney and his cotton gin. They even claim that Robert Fulton, «inventor of the steam boat», got the idea from the Wilkinson family.
It’s also interesting to learn how textile manufacturing has influenced the English language. Words like «flaxen hair», tow-​head, and dozens of other words are all derived from the textile manufacturing.
I feel a strong connection to this place. I think when we learn about our history we have a better understanding of ourselves.

Beautiful historic site! The tour is worth a go, but be sure you have at least an hour or two. I learned a lot about how families lived in Colonial America (everything from how they made food to how they put out fires), and also learned a lot about the milling and weaving process for cotton. Very neat! This site was also where some friends got married, and the wedding was beautiful! The upstairs room at the Slater Mill is a beautiful wedding site, and it had windows with great views of the fall leaves. I’d recommend visiting Slater Mill for sure. :)

Have you driven through Pawtucket thinking, «what a dump, there’s nothing to see here»? Well, give Slater Mill a try. It’s an important American History site right downtown in Pawtucket. It’s a nice attraction to add to a day trip around RI.

It having been at least 10 years since visiting this site, I thought it time to return to reminisce my childhood and feel the rush of hearing water gush over a steep rock wall, under cars that speed across the bridge above. I do not recommend going on a chilly day in March as I did, a trip here would be more enjoyable in the late spring and summer months.
Slater Mill is a national historical landmark, site of the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution! The property has 2+ water-​powered mills (built 1758 and 1810), a museum with textile machinery, and an early colonial house (built 1758). March thru October, visitors can join group tours of the museum and its immediate surroundings. Several events are held throughout the season including ghost tours, quilting/​knitting shows, lectures, etc.
Though the museum itself was not open, a friend and I made our way around to all the outdoor plaques and informational signs regarding the buildings on this property. Though I felt like a middle-​schooler on a field trip, I appreciated the information on these signs more than I would have back then. Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution?! Pretty sweet! I felt very historical :)
Across the river is a small park and wooded area with stairs that lead down to the water itself. Except for the few empty beer cans and vodka bottles, the view of the grounds from this area was exceptional. The sun glistens off the water and the sounds of the falls whisks you off to another time when the cotton mill was in working order. I will consider returning here in the summer to catch a tour of the mill itself or to enjoy one of the many outdoor events.