Boott Mills facts for kids
The Boott Mills are a famous group of cotton mills located in Lowell, Massachusetts. They were built in 1835 next to a special system of canals that provided power. These mills were named after Kirk Boott, who was an important person in Lowell's early development.
Today, the Boott Mills complex is one of the best examples of old textile mills from before the American Civil War. Part of the original Mill No. 6 is now managed by the Lowell National Historical Park. It is home to the Boott Cotton Mills Museum and the Tsongas Industrial History Center, which offers cool educational programs for students.
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Where Are the Boott Mills?
Lowell is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Boston. It sits right on the Merrimack River.
This spot was chosen because the Merrimack River had a lot of water power. There was also an existing canal, the Pawtucket Canal, which connected the Merrimack with the Concord River. In Lowell, the Merrimack River drops about 9 metres (30 ft) over a short distance, which was perfect for powering machines. Water was moved through canals and locks for boats, and the extra water could be used to turn waterwheels for the mills.
The Story of the Boott Mills
Kirk Boott worked for the company that built the Merrimack Canal. This was the first power canal in Lowell and was already helping other mills. Boott built his own mills in 1835. He hired workers using a special system called the Waltham-Lowell system, which often employed young women.
At first, the mills used hydropower (water power) to run. The original buildings were four brick structures with sloped roofs. Over time, more floors were added, giving them flat roofs. The buildings were also connected by stair towers and clock towers. More buildings were added to the complex as it grew. Later, the mills started using steam power and then electric power.
Why the Mills Closed
The textile industry in New England started to slow down around World War I. After World War II, it almost completely stopped. The Boott Mills closed their doors in 1958.
In the late 1970s, the Boott Mills became a very important part of the Lowell National Historical Park. This was because the complex was still mostly complete. Many other mill complexes had been damaged by fires or torn down. The Boott Mills site still has nine main factory buildings that were built between 1835 and the 1880s. This makes it a great example of how industrial buildings changed over that time.
Boott Cotton Mills Museum
Today, the Boott Mills are a great example of "adaptive re-use." This means old buildings are given new purposes. The complex now includes the Lowell National Historical Park Boott Cotton Mills Museum. This museum has a recreated weave room where you can see how fabric was made. It also has other interesting exhibits.
Some parts of the complex are now homes and offices. The National Park Service also has a special exhibit showing what a "Mill girl" boarding house looked like. These houses were built to house the young women who worked in the mills, following the Lowell System.
See also
- Lowell mills
Images for kids
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Boott Corp, 1850
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Boott Mills Power Loom in operation, 2015
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Boardinghouse and storehouse, 2005
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Inner courtyard, 2005
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Boott Mills east courtyard, 2014
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The exhibit, 2014
