We Are Waltham: true stories from Waltham, MA

General Admission $15.00
Students & Seniors Admission $10.00

This show may not be suitable for young children.

Take the stage alongside Waltham resident and storyteller Chandreyee Lahiri to share your own story as a presenter, or join us as an audience member to learn about others’ journeys.

This program aims to build a stronger Waltham community. For those new to storytelling, Lahiri will offer guidance in crafting your presentation prior to the event.

STORIES: A cast of 6 tellers will share true 6-8 minute stories about memorable experiences in their lives. All live, work or have close ties to the city so will help bond the community together as we discover the similarities that run through our differences.

RAFFLE: The fun raffle for the Spring show will be some Rubik's cubes that feature prominently in some stories plus some tote bags with the show logo.wearewaltham.com

'We are Waltham' is a storytelling show aimed at exploring the lives and experiences of residents of Waltham in order to entertain as well as help knit the community together. 

In keeping with the current standards of storytelling represented by popular shows like The Moth and Stories from the Stage, stories on this show will be true incidents from the lives of the tellers, told in their own authentic voices. In a world increasingly divided by ideology and suffering from Pandemic fallout, perhaps peeking into each others' realities might help us feel more like a community.  

Each show will attempt to have a cast of diverse tellers from many walks of life and stories will be their own but crafted with the help of a story telling coach. Hate speech will not be tolerated but an attempt will be made to accommodate all voices and perspectives. 

Its origins:

The show was conceived by Waltham resident Chandreyee Lahiri, a part-time writer and storyteller (chandreyeelahiri.com).

2nd SHIFT Concert: SPECIAL EVENT: THE FOLK COLLECTIVE Songs for Earth and Humanity

doors open at 7:30, the music starts at 8PM.

Tickets $20

Our stage will be packed for this special collaborative performance featuring powerhouse vocalists Lydia Harrell and Stephanie MacKay, dynamic young songwriters Gabriella Simpkins and Anju Madhok, multi-instrumentalist Maxfield Anderson, and Boston folk scene veterans Kim Moberg and Alastair Moock.

The Mill Girls of New England are an iconic feature of early American industry. More than being a symbol of industrialization, they were the first industrial workforce in the U.S. These working women contributed to the growth of the American industrial economy, challenged the idea that women couldn’t be “breadwinners” and were actively involved in early workers rights movements and trade unions.

Tour length: 45 minute

It is a FREE TOUR which will explore a limited section of our exhibits.

Should you wish to stay and tour the remainder of the Museum, we ask that you please pay our regular admission

2nd SHIFT Concert: REED FOEHL

doors open 7:30, concert begins at 8PM

Like any good troubadour, Reed Foehl has traveled countless roads and lived to tell the tale. We’re honored the road led him here tonight for his 2nd SHIFT Series debut.

MILL TALK: Many Voices, One Mission

How The Folk Collective aims to reclaim folk music to its multi-cultured origins

Moderated by Callie Crossley

The speakers at this panel, along with other Folk Collective musicians, will perform on Thursday, April 25th, at the Charles River Museum's 2nd SHIFT Concert series.
Tickets available HERE.

Every culture has its own folk music - be it traditional and passed through the ages, or new creations that tell the human stories of lives lived and living. The popularity of the Folk Revival of the 50s and 60s brought a widened audience and a new generation of performers - but also a problematic whitening of the genre that had been so multicultural in its origin.  

The Folk Collective was created in 2022 by the arts non-profit organization and presenter Passim to face this challenge of representation and narrow definition in folk music. Being that Club Passim has been at the center and forefront of folk music in this country for more than half a century, the organization felt a duty to reframe the narrative and take action to create real change.    

This panel discussion with the Folk Collective will explore folk music's historical roots and question why it's been narrowly defined. It aims to challenge this limited perspective by highlighting diverse voices and experiences often sidelined within the genre. Through inclusivity and authenticity, the discussion seeks to redefine folk music as truly reflective of the rich tapestry of human expression. This marks a pivotal moment in reshaping the narrative and fostering a more inclusive community within the genre.

The Folk Collective hopes to answer those questions. They are a broad representation of a community, performing music “of the people” for their community. Simply put, they are folk musicians. 

THE FOLK COLLECTIVE:
The Folk Collective is a quarterly gathering of twelve select artists, musicians, and cultural thought leaders. Through an active exchange of ideas, creative collaboration, and partnership, we aim to foster and develop sustainable channels to invite and welcome diverse audiences, artists, and conversations to the Passim stage.

Alastair Moock is an award-winning singer-songwriter; a Grammy-nominated family musician; social justice and Songwriting educator for all ages; and co-founder of The Opening Doors Project, an anti-racist music organization. The Boston Globe calls him "one of the town's best and most adventurous songwriters," and The Washington Post says, "every song is a gem."

Anju is a singer, songwriter, producer, and performer shaped by the people and places in Minnesota and Massachusetts. Their music conjures imaginary lovers, scents of citrus, and visions of hairy brown skin under the sun. Anju was highlighted by NPR's All Songs Considered as an outstanding Tiny Desk Contest entrant. They are currently teaching young musicians piano, violin, and guitar and working on their debut full-length album.

Maxfield Anderson is an American roots multi-instrumentalist, teacher, writer, and music director living in Somerville, MA. As an artist, Maxfield aims to bring new light to honored traditions and to share the joy of making music with others.

Award-winning Tlingit artist Kim Moberg was born in Juneau, Alaska, and currently calls Cape Cod, MA home. Kim began playing guitar at age 14, but severe stage fright kept her from becoming a professional performer. In 2014 Kim set out to overcome her stage fright and wrote her first song. Kim teamed with Grammy-nominated producer Jon Evans to record two albums: "Above Ground" and "Up Around The Bend." Both have received worldwide airplay, charting on the Folk Alliance International Folk DJ charts and the NACC Radio charts. Kim and Jon are collaborating on her third album, which features songs that tie ancient prophecies to our current social environment. Kim's recognitions include the 2021 Rocky Mountain Songwriting Contest Finalist, the 2021 Great American Songwriting Contest Folk/Americana Finalist, and the 2020 CT Folk Grassy Hill Songwriting Competition Winner.

Stephanie Mckay is a recording artist, songwriter, arts educator, and advocate based in Medford. Her artistic practice lies at the intersection of music, community, and education.

Made up of a diverse cohort of twelve artists in the Greater Boston region, The Folk Collective has taken this challenge head-on, performing concerts in the club as well as out in the community that push the boundaries of folk music…from themed concerts like Re-Imagining Lilith Fair to curated festivals such as We Black Folk to timely shows like the Indigenous Peoples Day event and the Inaugural Pride Month Celebration… The Folk Collective is reclaiming Folk Music as a music for all people. 

The inaugural cohort brings twelve diverse, multigenerational, talented artists, educators, and thought-leaders together, to collaborate, inspire, and rethink what Folk Music looks like today. In doing so, they’ve become their own community.  

And now, as the Folk Collective is deep its second year  (a new cohort will be chosen for 2024-2026 season), one of the most exciting developments is the plan to learn what has worked (and what hasn’t) from this exciting trailblazing initiative and create tools and a template for other organizations to use ... The Folk Collective is artist-led. Passim continues to learn from these inspiring leaders and incorporate their thoughts and ideas into the core of its practice.

The Mill Girls of New England are an iconic feature of early American industry. More than being a symbol of industrialization, they were the first industrial workforce in the U.S. These working women contributed to the growth of the American industrial economy, challenged the idea that women couldn’t be “breadwinners” and were actively involved in early workers rights movements and trade unions.

Tour length: 45 minute

It is a FREE TOUR which will explore a limited section of our exhibits.

Should you wish to stay and tour the remainder of the Museum, we ask that you please pay our regular admission

2nd SHIFT Concert: VIV & RILEY

doors open 7:30, concert begins at 8PM

Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler have been captivating audiences with their unique blend of dumpster-folk and thrift store-Americana for over a decade now. They’ve more than earned their road dog wings, but they refuse to lean on the typical haggard, road-worn stereotypes. Graham and Tyler sing of the darkness that tries to weigh us all down as well as anyone. But more often than not, their songs take flight, born aloft on clear-eyed optimism and hard-won hope.

MILL TALK: Artificial Intelligence and the Next Industrial Revolution?

presented by: Sam Ransbotham, Professor of Analytics,  Boston College Carroll School of Management

Do recent advances in artificial intelligence herald a new stage of human development? Or is the current AI fervor yet another technology hype?

Rapid advances in AI have captured considerable public interest. Like prior technology developments, we can increasingly replace human activity with machines. But while prior technology developments deeply affected physical labor, AI developments (particularly generative AI) encroach on what was previously an entirely human domain -- knowledge work. Machines now seem to be able to think and learn. With these developments, we may see liberation from routine tasks, standardization of processes, and a head start on human learning. But we may instead see unemployment from job displacement, bias at a massive scale, and a race to mediocrity.

“Has the machine in its last furious manifestation begun to eliminate workers faster than new tasks can be found for them?” Stuart Chase asked this topical question in his book, “Men and Machines” -- in 1929. While everyone seems to talk about artificial intelligence, we’ll talk about what people are really doing now and where they seem to be headed.

The discussion will build from a 10-year MIT Sloan Management Review research program and stories from the Me, Myself, and AI podcast. In particular, we’ll focus on the role of human agency in choosing how we use these exciting tool developments.

Ransbotham received a National Science Foundation Career Program award “in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education,” for his analytics-based research in security. He was also honored with an INFORMS ISS Sandra A. Slaughter Early Career Award, which recognizes “early career individuals who are on a path towards making outstanding intellectual contributions to the information systems discipline.”

Ransbotham earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, an MBA, and a doctorate, all from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Before earning his doctorate, he founded a software company with a globally diverse client list including the United Nations IAEA (Vienna), FAO (Rome), WHO (Geneva), and WMO (London). Since 2015, he has been an editor for MIT SMR’s Big Ideas initiatives, including Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy, and Competing With Data & Analytics.

The N.E.M.E.S. New England Model Engineering Show

See operating scale:

steam engines • gasoline engines • aircraft engines • locomotives • traction engines • model boats

See these amazing machines up close and talk to the folks who made them!

This event is a popular, great time for all ages, and a chance to view wonderful working engines and machines and interact with their creators. We at the Museum look forward to this event every year!

Standard Museum admission applies.

EXHIBITORS:
free admission for show exhibitors
setup starts at 8:00 am
compressed air for running models provided
gas engines allowed
non-member exhibitors welcome!

RESISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS FULL!

Mill Talk: Travel 3D with the 19th Century TimeGuys

presented by George L. Mutter, Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Bernard P. Fishman, Director, Maine State Museum, Augusta, ME

Magic glasses will be provided

Note: Due to the special nature of this 3D presentation, this Mill Talk will not be recorded or livestreamed. This is an in-person event only.

Warning:  This presentation is uncensored, showing imagery as it was prepared for and shown to audiences in the day.  Some content may be considered offensive to current sensibilities.  Viewer discretion is advised.

George Mutter trained in medicine at Harvard and Columbia, and is currently a Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School.  He is a prolific scientist and educator, having authored over 120 scientific papers, and delivered numerous invited lectures internationally. 

Bernard Fishman is an Egyptologist trained at Columbia U. and U. of Pennsylvania.  He worked in Egypt with the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago before becoming a nonprofit institution administrator.  He is presently the Director of the Maine State Museum in Augusta, Maine.  

Come Weave a Valentine!: Innovation Alley Drop-In Family Activity

Bricks and Stories Tours
of the historic Francis Cabot Lowell Mill 

Our popular outdoor walking tour returns!
Come see an evolution of a historic textile mill

Curious about the old mill complex by the river? Discover the history and architecture of the world’s first modern factory, the 1813 Boston Manufacturing Company, which lies right in your own backyard!

Take a walk by the river in the fresh air. Then have a delicious lunch at one of Waltham’s local eateries.  

It all starts at the Charles River Museum.

Where:
Tours begin overlooking the river beneath the Charles River Museum smokestack. Follow signs from Landry Park off of Moody Street or the footbridge behind Embassy parking. We meet outside our Visitor Entrance.

Directions and Parking Info HERE 

We look forward to seeing you there!

The optimal size for this tour is up to 20 persons.
Groups are welcome to contact the museum to arrange a private tour.         

The Mill Girls of New England are an iconic feature of early American industry. More than being a symbol of industrialization, they were the first industrial workforce in the U.S. These working women contributed to the growth of the American industrial economy, challenged the idea that women couldn’t be “breadwinners” and were actively involved in early workers rights movements and trade unions.

Tour length: 45 minute

It is a FREE TOUR which will explore a limited section of our exhibits.

Should you wish to stay and tour the remainder of the Museum, we ask that you please pay our regular admission

Mill Talk: THE HIDDEN COSTS OF A GREENER FUTURE
Unearthing the Environmental Impact of Electrification, presented by Dr. Tomas Villalón

FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

This lecture will be recorded for later viewing on the WGBH Forum Network.

The sustainable future we are collectively building comes with significant environmental costs, primarily felt by the global south. The mining and processing of rare earth metals, nickel, cobalt, copper, and many other critical materials, essential for electrification and renewable technologies, often result in considerable ecological damage.

We will explore how the mining and extraction of these materials, while essential for driving forward the clean energy revolution, often contradicts the principles of environmental stewardship. The lecture will particularly focus on the impact in the global south, where much of the world's mining and refining activities take place, often with less stringent environmental regulations and oversight. This raises critical questions about the true cost of our transition to renewable energy and electric mobility.

In response to these challenges, Dr. Tomas Villalón will share Phoenix Tailings’ transformative approach to mining and material processing. Our innovative strategies aim to revolutionize the industry by extracting rare earth metals and other crucial materials sustainably. He will discuss their cutting-edge techniques for minimizing ecological impact through rethinking the approach to material refining and the remediation of toxic waste. By turning a historically pollutive process into a more environmentally responsible one and cleaning up the toxic byproducts of mining operations, Phoenix Tailings is not only contributing to the cleaner production of electrification materials but also paving the way for a more equitable and truly sustainable future.

Mill Talk: Community Engineering: Stories and Soaring to the Future

An Evening with Engineers Without Borders USA

Engage in a dynamic and lively conversation with the leaders and volunteers of Engineers Without Borders USA!

The Charles River Museum will host EWB-USA CEO Boris Martin, Former EWB-USA Board President Dr. Chris Lombardo, and EWB-USA volunteers from across the New England area for a happy hour social followed by a unique and forward-moving Mill Talk on community engineering. Expect to be regaled with stories of impact, engaged in reflection on engineers’ and educators’ calling, and moved toward action to build a better world.

Come for a happy hour social (with light appetizers and a cash bar) from 6-7 pm, and a dynamic and conversational Mill Talk with Dr. Boris Martin and Dr. Chris Lombardo from 7:15 to 8 pm.

Perhaps above all, Boris is proud to contribute to EWB-USA’s global impact projects that provide reliable access to safe water, renewable energy, nutritious food, and improved economic opportunities for thousands of underserved communities across the USA and around the world. His commitment is to make EWB-USA a leading Community Engineering organization and a catalyst and partner for Community Engineering around the world.

Dr. Chris Lombardo
Dr. Lombardo is currently employed at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences as the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies and Lecturer in Electrical Engineering. His teaching focuses on electronics, engineering design, and the intersection of engineering and human centered design with a focus on low resource settings.

The Mill Girls of New England are an iconic feature of early American industry. More than being a symbol of industrialization, they were the first industrial workforce in the U.S. These working women contributed to the growth of the American industrial economy, challenged the idea that women couldn’t be “breadwinners” and were actively involved in early workers rights movements and trade unions.

Tour length: 45 minute

It is a FREE TOUR which will explore a limited section of our exhibits.

Should you wish to stay and tour the remainder of the Museum, we ask that you please pay our regular admission

Innovation Alley DESIGN CHALLENGE Workshop

Innovation Alley DESIGN CHALLENGE Workshop

Drop in ornament making with the Museum’s very own 3D-printed looms!

Come learn how to weave and make an ornament for a fun holiday gift or decoration!

All ages welcome!

Drop in ornament making with the Museum’s very own 3D-printed looms!

Come learn how to weave and make an ornament for a fun holiday gift or decoration!

All ages welcome!

This event has SOLD OUT

THE TARBOX RAMBLERS Double-Shot HOLIDAY BARN-BURNER! featuring the original lineup!

21+ Beer and Wine available

This year’s Tarbox Ramblers Holiday Barn-Burner will be a two-night extravaganza reuniting all members of the original band or the first time in 20 years!

Bandleader Michael Tarbox will be joined by bassist Johnny Sciascia, violinist Dan Kellar and drummer Jon Cohan to play songs from the group’s original repertoire. Expect two nights of high-energy blues, gospel and hillbilly music, with vocal harmonies, played in The Ramblers’ inimitable style.

Do not miss these shows!

This event has SOLD OUT

THE TARBOX RAMBLERS Double-Shot HOLIDAY BARN-BURNER! featuring the original lineup!

21+ Beer and Wine available

This year’s Tarbox Ramblers Holiday Barn-Burner will be a two-night extravaganza reuniting all members of the original band or the first time in 20 years!

Bandleader Michael Tarbox will be joined by bassist Johnny Sciascia, violinist Dan Kellar and drummer Jon Cohan to play songs from the group’s original repertoire. Expect two nights of high-energy blues, gospel and hillbilly music, with vocal harmonies, played in The Ramblers’ inimitable style.

Do not miss these shows!

Drop in ornament making with the Museum’s very own 3D-printed looms!

Come learn how to weave and make an ornament for a fun holiday gift or decoration!

All ages welcome!

Mill Talk:
How Dickens Helped Bring Christmas to Boston

Readings and performances of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol have played an integral part in winter holiday festivities since longer than most of us can remember. What fewer people know, however, is that the British literary superstar and his popular novella actually helped bring Christmas back to Boston.

Accompanied by a beautiful slide show, Susan Wilson—the Official House Historian of the Parker House—traces the history of Christmas celebrations, which were discouraged and even banned in the Puritan stronghold of colonial Boston. Wilson explains how and why Christmas finally began to be embraced in the mid 19th century, and how Charles Dickens' arrival in 1867—when he made his home at the Parker House for 5 months—really added fuel to the yule log.

2nd SHIFT Concert: Wesley Stace

doors open 7:30, concert begins at 8PM

wesleystace.com

You might have first become aware of Wesley Stace as we first did, from the many albums he released under the Dylanesque moniker “John Wesley Harding.” Since switching back to his birth name, he’s continued to make literate and refined folk music, while diversifying his creative output.

Whether he’s curating his offbeat variety show Cabinet of Wonders in a hip New York city club, writing his next novel, or sharing his expertise teaching at Princeton or Swarthmore, his singular voice and writer’s eye for detail always shines through.

We can’t think of a better way to close out our fall 2023 2nd Shift series than by welcoming a true musical titan.

MassDestruction: Resurgence! Combat Robotics!

Standard Museum Admission applies
NOTE: This is a family friendly spectator event suitable for all ages, but there will be loud noises and crowds.

After four long and crazy years, New England’s premiere robot fighting league finally returns!

MassDestruction is coming to the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation to once again bring you an entire day of mechanized mayhem! On December 2nd, expect to see Boston’s Brightest put their metal to the metal as we clash 3lb and 1lb robots in our Pyramid of Pain!

Sparks will fly, bots will die, and a new champion of MassDestruction will be crowned!

NOTE: This is a family friendly spectator event suitable for all ages, but there will be loud noises and crowds.

If you’re new to robot fighting and want to learn how to get involved, please message MassDestruction’s friendly Facebook page and we can get you pointed in the right direction!

Bricks and Stories Tours
of the historic Francis Cabot Lowell Mill 

Our popular outdoor walking tour returns!
Come see an evolution of a historic textile mill

Curious about the old mill complex by the river? Discover the history and architecture of the world’s first modern factory, the 1813 Boston Manufacturing Company, which lies right in your own backyard!

Take a walk by the river in the fresh air. Then have a delicious lunch at one of Waltham’s local eateries.  

It all starts at the Charles River Museum.

Where:
Tours begin overlooking the river beneath the Charles River Museum smokestack. Follow signs from Landry Park off of Moody Street or the footbridge behind Embassy parking. We meet outside our Visitor Entrance.

Directions and Parking Info HERE 

We look forward to seeing you there!

The optimal size for this tour is up to 20 persons.
Groups are welcome to contact the museum to arrange a private tour.