Pawtuxet River Mills—Fires, Failures, Successes and Survival
Drawing on the skills of Pawtucket iron-makers, financing from Providence and maritime merchants, and the introduction of the Arkwright system of carding and s…
location_fill Start tour16 stops
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Pawtuxet River Watershed and Mills Tourlocation_fillThe “Pawtuxet,” named by the Native Americans as “the river of many falls,” had numerous cataracts due to the …
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Pontiac Milllocation_fillIn between a fire, seven new owners, labor strikes, and financial failures, this original home of the iconic “… -
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Natick Mill (destroyed)location_fillUnfortunately the Natick Mill burned down in 1941 but we include this site on the tour because by 1883 the fou… -
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Valley Queen Milllocation_fillFrom “Kentucky Jeans” to “Fruit of the Loom” to the world’s most popular soaps and cosmetics, the “lower mill”… -
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Royal Milllocation_fillThe mills here at Riverpoint, where the North and South Branches meet, experienced more fires, floods, constru… -
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Arctic Milllocation_fillFew historic Rhode Island textile companies have survived to the present; but Arctic Mill was home for a numbe… -
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Centreville Milllocation_fillThis Centreville Mill complex saw 18 new owners from 1794 to 2004 and an explosion and fire in 1871 but, at on… -
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Crompton Milllocation_fillCrompton Mill, home of the “Velvet Mills,” the first U.S. company to manufacture velveteens and corduroys, by … -
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Quidnick Milllocation_fillThis mill in the village first named Greeneville, then Taftville, and finally Quidnick after one of its reserv… -
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Anthony Milllocation_fill“A prettier mill you will not find.” Built in 1873 the Italianate Anthony Mill has the distinction of being o… -
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Lippitt Milllocation_fillBuilt in 1809, Lippitt Mill is one of the most important mills in the state, and was one of the oldest America… -
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Phenix Milllocation_fillLike every other mill you are visiting, Phenix Mill was “paternalistic” providing necessities such as housing,… -
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Harris Milllocation_fillAlthough the mill across the street is gone, what you see behind the Harris Mill Lofts sign is a classic examp… -
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Arkwright Milllocation_fillFrom cotton and bookcloth to fuel cells, films and printing media these two 150 year old mills are state-of-th… -
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Jackson Milllocation_fillRhode Island Governor Charles Jackson built the first cotton mill here in 1825. By the late 1880s the mill w… -
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Hope Milllocation_fillThis site was famous during the revolution for an iron forge called Hope Furnace (across the street from the m…
16 mapped stops