Regenerating the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution
Blackstone River Valley
National Heritage Corridor
Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Interpreting the Story

The Commission has developed a full array of brochures, maps and guidbooks providing information about the historic sites in the valley; trained volunteer interpreters; created the first in a series of wayside and traveling interpretive exhibits; and established three of four planned visitor centers/museums throughout the valley.

Their crew of park rangers, meanwhile, runs a program of guided tours on foot, by river boat and by bus; conducts a lecture series; teaches orienteering and canoeing; and helped produce a series of television programs called “Along the Blackstone” for the History Channel.

The Commission also created a system of coordinated signage to identify historic sites and aid in wayfinding. The national heritage area legislation requires it. But it was a challenge to negotiate the system across two states and two dozen local jurisdictions, senior planner, Nancy Brit­tain said.

The benefits of the system however, have accrued to local residents as well as visi­tors. “People really know the signs now,” Brittain said, and the more coherent im­age and identity the signs have created for the regions are something the eco­nomic development people find they can sell.

(back to the top)

Fostering River Recovery

The Commis­sion has worked on many fronts to im­prove water quality and waterfront access. The first leg of the eventual 45-mile Blackstone River Bikeway opened in 1999. The Black­stone was recently awarded “American Heritage River” status, which comes with five years of federal aid to help restore the river and river­fronts.

The designation also allowed for creation of a “river navigator” position — someone to survey conditions on the river and work with the community to develop pri­ority issues for action on environment, economy, recreation, and historic preser­vation issues.

Meanwhile, the Commission has also spon­sored a project to stencil warnings on storm drains against dumping as a deter­rent to “non-point” pollution from motor oil, pet wastes, fertilizer, pes­ticides and other pollutants. Students from Woon­socket High School are also assisting with a plan for river recovery — mapping the river, identifying pollution sources, testing the waters, developing best manage­ment practices, and conducting pub­lic education.

(back to the top)