Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park |
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River Bend Farm,
Blackstone River and Canal State Park |
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 Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park
Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States |
| Area | 1,066 acres (4.31 km2) |
| Elevation | 450 ft (140 m) |
| Operator | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park |
The Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park is a cool place in Massachusetts. It's part of the state park system and is looked after by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). This park is huge, covering about 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) of land! It helps us remember how important canals were for moving raw materials and finished products between growing factory towns.
The Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, located in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, is right in the middle of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. This corridor is part of the National Park System. The Blackstone River and its valley are super important because this is where the Industrial Revolution first began in America! The southern entrance to the park is home to the historic Stanley Woolen Mill. This old mill is now being updated for businesses and visitors. The Nipmuc people, who are Native Americans, used to call this area "Wacentug," which means "bend in the river."
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The Blackstone Canal: A Superhighway of the Past
By 1818, people in the upper Blackstone Valley needed a better way to move their goods. Large wagons pulled by "teamsters" (people who drove teams of horses) carried textile goods to Woonsocket and Worcester. A merchant named John Brown from Providence had the idea for the Blackstone Canal way back in the late 1700s.
The famous Erie Canal was built in New York just before the Blackstone Canal. Finally, the need for a waterway from Worcester to Providence led to the building of the Blackstone Canal in 1828. This 45-mile (72 km) canal connected Worcester to Providence, which was the closest port city.
Some people think the canal was also built to control water rights for rival factories that used water power. The canal was built by Irish laborers. Many of these workers had also helped build the Erie Canal and decided to settle here. The canal was finished in 1828. It was a simple ditch that ran next to the Blackstone River. It had a dirt path next to it called a "tow path," where horses would walk and pull boats.
A granite lock, which is like a water elevator for boats, can still be seen at Goat Hill. Uxbridge was a common overnight stop for boats on the canal. The canal allowed mills in inland Worcester to send thousands of tons of textiles to Providence, where they could be shipped all over the world. However, by 1832, the Boston and Worcester Railroad started carrying freight to Boston. This made the canal less important. Other canals, like the Illinois and Michigan Canal, were also built around this time.
In 1847, the Providence and Worcester Railroad opened. This new railroad completely took over from the canal for transportation. It showed how transportation changed from horse-drawn wagons, to canal barges, and finally to railroads.
What You Can See and Do
The park offers special programs that explain its history. There are trails that follow the paths once used by the Nipmuc, the Native American people who lived in central Massachusetts.
The River Bend Farm Visitor Center is a great starting point for many activities. You can go canoeing, fishing, or explore the trails. In winter, you can even go snowmobiling or cross-country skiing! National Park Service rangers are often at the River Bend Farm Visitors Center to share local history.
Nearby Goat Hill offers amazing views and you can see parts of the old canal locks and towpaths. Lookout Rock is also close by and gives you beautiful views of the valley and the winding Blackstone River.
Nearby Fun and Features
The park area includes places like Rice City and Goat Hill. You can often see lots of different wildlife here. The state park works closely with the nearby National Park Service to protect this special area.
The Blackstone River Bikeway is currently being built. This bikeway, along with the Blackstone Canal towpath, will be part of the huge 3,000-mile (4,800 km) East Coast Greenway. You can also enjoy outdoor activities at the nearby West Hill Dam and Park.
Images for kids
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Canoes on the Blackstone Canal
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View of a control gate on the Blackstone Canal at the Blackstone River and Canal State Park in Uxbridge
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Exhibit of 19th century farm implements at River Bend Farm
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Goat Hill Hill Trail
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Plummer's Landing in Northbridge
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The Blackstone Canal
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River Bend Farm Interpretive Center at Blacktone River and Canal Heritage State Park
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River Bend Farm, Blackstone River and Canal State Park, from canal path looking toward bridge and interpretive center.
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The Taft brothers built the first bridge across the Blackstone River in 1709. This stone arch bridge is a familiar scene walking northward at the Blackstone Canal Heritage State Park.
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Stanley Woolen Mill, Nov. 11, 2009, Uxbridge, MA, with view of the Blackstone Canal
