Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World
Oct
25
to Oct 26

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World

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Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World A Gallery Tour

Explore the history of American ingenuity with this new tour, a guided experience that provides an overview of the museum’s collection, highlighting transformative advancements in manufacturing, precision engineering, and industrial technology. 

Visitors will learn about include the revolutionary textile machines of the early factory system, the world-class craftsmanship of Waltham watchmaking, and tools and inventions that shaped the modern age.

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Mill Talk: Reverse Engineering the American Power Loom
Oct
29
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: Reverse Engineering the American Power Loom

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Reverse Engineering the American Power Loom

Uncovering the Roots of American Mechanical Weaving
presented by Mac (Lowell McKay) Whatley

REGISTER

FREE to the public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Research into the origin of textile machinery in the United States has been handicapped by the destruction of early records and artifacts, leading to generations of theories, suppositions and assumptions as to the actual appearance and operation of even the most seminal inventions such as the 1815 Waltham power loom of F.C. Lowell, as well as its unpatented competitor, the 1817 Rhode Island loom of William Gilmour. What does it mean that Lowell’s was called a “Wiper Loom,” and Gilmour’s a “Crank Loom”? This presentation deconstructs power looms down to their constituent parts, first to deduce how these evolved from the inventor’s original model, and then to reconstruct the probable appearance of each branch of power loom design before 1820.


MAC WHATLEY is the Director of Local History and Genealogy Resources at the Randolph County Public Library, having retired after practicing law for thirty years. He is a graduate of Asheboro High School (class of 1973), Harvard University (BA 1977), UNC-Chapel Hill (MSLS 1985), and NC Central School of Law (JD 1988). He worked as an archeologist for the State of Virginia and an architectural historian for the State of North Carolina. He has served as Mayor or Commissioner of the Town of Franklinville for more than 30 years. He is the author of The Architectural History of Randolph County (1985) and Randolph County: A Pictorial History (2010). He was the Adjunct Curator of Industrial Machinery for the American Textile History Museum until it ceased operations in 2017. He managed to preserve most of that ASME landmark collection by warehousing it in North Carolina and hoping for better appreciation of our industrial heritage.


Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

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Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World
Oct
31
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World A Gallery Tour

Explore the history of American ingenuity with this new tour, a guided experience that provides an overview of the museum’s collection, highlighting transformative advancements in manufacturing, precision engineering, and industrial technology. 

Visitors will learn about include the revolutionary textile machines of the early factory system, the world-class craftsmanship of Waltham watchmaking, and tools and inventions that shaped the modern age.

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Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG
Nov
1
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

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Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

Come learn about the first industrial mill in the United States at the Charles River Museum of Innovation and Industry. Join us as we address the role of women in industrial America. The tour explores the trials and triumphs of mill women who worked in Boston Manufacturing Company and the Boston Associates’ textile mills in Waltham and Lowell, MA. You will hear songs written by the mill women, recorded at a Museum concert performance by historical folk singer Diane Taraz, as well as artifacts and images of the women themselves. These working women act as a case study for industrialization in America.

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

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2nd SHIFT Concert: Maya de Vitry
Nov
6
8:00 PM20:00

2nd SHIFT Concert: Maya de Vitry

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2nd SHIFT Concert: Maya de Vitry

Doors Open at 7:30, performance begins at 8
Beer and Wine Cash Bar Service for 21+

TICKETS

mayadevitry.com

From her formative work as part of singer/songwriter string band phenoms The Stray Birds to her growing catalog of solo albums, Maya DeVitry radiates joy while extolling the transformative power of community.

Fiercely committed to personal growth as a means of artistic evolution, her 2024 album The Only Moment is her gently defiant testament to personal reinvention and creative growth. “After the show, I just want to know if I’ve helped you feel more free,” Maya says. “That’s my unspoken agreement—to myself, my bandmates, and everyone in the audience.” de Vitry is a relentlessly peripatetic artist, and 2nd SHIFTcurator Mark Erelli has long wanted bring her to the series.

We are excited for her to make her debut in our main gallery this fall.

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Mill Talk: The Great Boston Fire of 1872: How a massive conflagration nearly incinerated the city
Nov
12
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: The Great Boston Fire of 1872: How a massive conflagration nearly incinerated the city

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Mill Talk:The Great Boston Fire of 1872: How a massive conflagration nearly incinerated the city

presented by Stephanie Schorow

REGISTER

FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Arrive early at 6PM to view our collection of firefighting equipment, including our 1871 Amoskeag steam pumper that fought in the Great Boston Fire!

For two days in November 1872, a massive fire swept through Boston, leaving the downtown in ruins and the population traumatized. Coming barely a year after the infamous Chicago fire, Boston’s inferno turned out to be one of the most expensive fires per acre in U.S. history. Yet today few are aware of how close Boston came to destruction. With photos, vivid descriptions and artifacts, Boston author Stephanie Schorow masterfully recounts the fire’s history from the foolish decisions that precipitated it to the heroics of firefighters who fought it.

Speaker Bio:

Stephanie Schorow is a journalist and communications instructor at Boston University, and the author of nine books on Boston history and a novel set in the 1980s. She has worked as an editor and reporter for the Boston Herald, the Associated Press, and newspapers in Connecticut, Idaho and Utah. She has appeared in numerous documentaries on Boston history and is in demand as a presenter, teacher and podcast guest.

Links:

www.stephanieschorow.com

https://bookshop.org/shop/StephanieSchorow


Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

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Waltham Repair Cafe
Nov
15
11:00 AM11:00

Waltham Repair Cafe

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The Waltham Repair Cafe RETURNS to the Charles River Museum! Repair Cafes bring the community together and provide a place where folks can bring their well-loved, broken items to be fixed by volunteers (if possible).

Free to attend - including free museum entry.

Tips and donations are encouraged, but not required.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We are looking for more people to volunteer to help repair goods, help with administration, or help direct people where to go. I will send an initial email to volunteers later this week.


FAQ: https://www.walthamrc.org/faq
Volunteer sign up: https://www.walthamrc.org/volunteer
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/walthamrc

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Mill Talk: What is Industrial Archeology: Its Past and Future
Nov
19
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: What is Industrial Archeology: Its Past and Future

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Mill Talk: What is Industrial Archeology: Its Past and Future

presented by Sara E. Wermiel

FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

REGISTER

The field of industrial archeology (IA) is now about 70 years old and has passed through stages of life, from an exuberant youth filled with discovery – the period when the Charles River Museum of Industry was founded – to its sedate present. Interest in the field seems to be waning, judging from declining membership in IA groups, and even the name of the field confuses people. Those of us who would like to see the field survive and flourish wonder how it can be re-energized, in what direction should it go?

This presentation will explain what industrial archeology is. It will trace the history of the field, from its beginnings in England in the 1950s and the founding of the U.S. Society for Industrial Archeology in 1971, to the present, and describe some of its contributions, like the early surveys of historic textile mills. It will cover its connections to allied history and practice fields, like history of technology and historic preservation. Sara Wermiel will conclude by presenting her ideas for what the field might focus on, to have a purpose that can sustain it.

Speaker Bio:

Sara E. Wermiel is an independent scholar, historic preservation consultant, and teacher. Her research focuses on nineteenth century building technology, construction history, building types, and industrialization. She currently teaches Preservation Planning in the Preservation Studies Program at Boston University.

Wermiel received a B.A. from Oberlin College; a professional degree in urban planning from Hunter College, City University of New York; and a PhD in urban history and history of technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is the treasurer of the Southern New England Chapter of the Society for Industrial Archeology.

Links:

Lighthouses Lighthouses | Sara E Wermiel | W. W. Norton & Company

“Fire Escapes,” Fire Escapes - Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia


Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

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2nd SHIFT Concert: The Wolff Sisters
Nov
20
8:00 PM20:00

2nd SHIFT Concert: The Wolff Sisters

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2nd SHIFT Concert: The Wolff Sisters

TICKETS

Doors Open at 7:30, performance begins at 8
Beer and Wine Cash Bar Service for 21+

thewolffsisters.com

Fronted by three sisters—Rebecca on acoustic guitar, Kat on the keys, Rachael on electric guitar, and all three on vocals—Canton, Massachusetts’ Wolff sisters were raised on steady diet of Bob Dylan, The Band, and Little Feat. Their music is honest yet genre-defying, rooted in traditional storytelling that puts a decidedly New England spin on Americana music.

Since they won “Americana Artist of the Year” at the 2020 Boston Music Awards, the band’s electrifying live performances continue to garner recognition from their hometown of Boston and beyond.

When everything gets grayer and colder in November, this Wolff Sisters show will burn brightly, just the thing you need to fire your spirit up and sustain you through the winter ahead.

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Mill Talk: Inside a Waltham Pocket Watch- How it works and why
Nov
22
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: Inside a Waltham Pocket Watch- How it works and why

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Mill Talk: Inside a Waltham Pocket Watch: How It Works and Why

REGISTER

A Talk and Demonstration with Chris Carey, Watertown Watch and Clock
FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Step inside the intricate world of fine watchmaking with Waltham’s own Chris Carey, watchmaker and owner of Watertown Watch and Clock. In this live demonstration, Chris will carefully disassemble a Waltham Model 1908 pocket watch, revealing the artistry, engineering, and precision that made Waltham a world leader in timekeeping.

As he takes the watch apart piece by piece, Chris will explain how each component functions, what makes it essential, and how Waltham’s innovations compared with those of earlier and later American, Swiss, and English timepieces. Through detailed visuals and hands-on examples, attendees will gain a rare, close-up look at the mechanical heart of a Waltham watch—and a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship and ingenuity that powered the city’s historic watch industry.


Chris Carey was taught watch repair as a boy by his grandfather, Pat Caruso, a watchmaker at Waltham Watch Company. In 1993 he opened his own clock and watch repair shop, Watertown Watch and Clock, and now operates the shop with his wife, Christine, in Waltham, Massachusetts. Chris has served as the Secretary of The American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI), he is the Chairman of the Board of the Massachusetts Watchmakers-Clockmakers Association, and is Past President of NAWCC New England Chapter 8.

Beware: Chris' family is sick of hearing him talk about watches and clocks, so he is happy to have found a new audience with whom he can share is passion.

Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

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Mill Talk: Disrupting Time: How industrial espionage shaped the future of the American and Swiss watch industries
Dec
3
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: Disrupting Time: How industrial espionage shaped the future of the American and Swiss watch industries

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Mill Talk: Disrupting Time: How industrial espionage shaped the future of the American and Swiss watch industries

presented by Aaron Stark

REGISTER

FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

In the fall of 1876, two Swiss spies came to America and conducted some of the most covert and consequential industrial espionage in history, changing the course of the global watch industry forever. Disrupting Time is a true historical narrative of business strategy, espionage, and consequences. It details the story of Jacques David and Theo Gribi who, in 1876, were commissioned by the Society of Jura Industries, a Swiss trade association, to acquire the secrets of America’s technology sector – the American watch industry. They captured their intelligence in a 130-page report that would remain mostly secret until 1992.

Disrupting Time details the never-before-told story of David and Gribi’s secrets and mission, showing how they used disguises, agent recruitments, and other classic espionage methods to steal the secrets of America’s technology sector of the era.

Speaker Bio:

Aaron Stark is the author of the book "Disrupting Time: Industrial combat, espionage, and the downfall of a great American company." He currently serves as a director of business intelligence for a Fortune 500 company. Before entering business, he was an assistant professor of economics at West Point, with a specialization in finance. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School with a focus on finance and business strategy, and a BS in Economics from West Point. He is a veteran of the US Army with two combat tours in Afghanistan, serving as an Apache helicopter pilot.

Disrupting Time details the never-before-told story of David and Gribi’s secrets and mission, showing how they used disguises, agent recruitments, and other classic espionage methods to steal the secrets of America’s technology sector of the era. In praise for Disrupting Time, Hodinkee's former Editor-in-Chief Jack Forster wrote "Aaron Stark pulls back the curtain on perhaps the single most important case of industrial spying in the history of watchmaking – and one whose full details, incredibly, weren’t fully known until just last year.” Additionally, the anonymous CIA officer behind the wildly popular Watches of Espionage wrote: "Disrupting Time is a fantastic story of real-life watches of espionage.

It is a thrilling read, full of details that will change everything you thought you knew about the origin of Swiss watches - definitely not the narrative the watch industry has told you. If you are into watches, intelligence, history, or business, this book is a must read!” Join us for author Aaron Stark's lecture where he will talk about his journey of discovery, research, and how these events changed the course of history.

Links:

Aaronstarkbooks.com

Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

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2nd SHIFT Concert: Hickman, Anick & Woodsmith
Dec
4
8:00 PM20:00

2nd SHIFT Concert: Hickman, Anick & Woodsmith

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2nd SHIFT Concert: Hickman, Anick & Woodsmith

TICKETS

Doors Open at 7:30, performance begins at 8
Beer and Wine Cash Bar Service for 21+

It’s a fine name for a fictitious law firm, but Hickman, Anick & Woodsmith make an even better power trio. The recipe is simple— Della Mae lead vocalist Celia Woodsmith’s soulful, powerhouse vocals, Jason Anick’s blindingly virtuosic fiddle playing, all grounded by “double bassist to the stars” Zachariah Hickman’s notorious low end growl and groove. But make no mistake, these three will move more air and rouse spirits higher than ensembles twice their size.

Hickman, Anick and Woodsmith all lead vibrantly busy musical lives, and we are truly lucky to have them close out our fall 2025 2nd SHIFT Music Series, a rousing conclusion to one of curator Mark Erelli’s strongest seasons yet.

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The Tarbox Ramblers Holiday Barnburner 2025
Dec
19
8:00 PM20:00

The Tarbox Ramblers Holiday Barnburner 2025

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The Tarbox Ramblers Holiday Barnburner 2025

BUY TICKETS

Tickets $25

Beer & Wine Service for 21+

Nothing quite brings the fire to the Charles River Museum the way that the The Tarbox Ramblers do!

Bandleader Michael Tarbox, joined by bassist Johnny Sciascia, violinist Dan Kellar and drummer Jon Cohan to play songs from the group’s original repertoire. High-energy blues, gospel and hillbilly music, incredible and energetic playing with rousing vocal harmonies—these are all hallmarks of The Ramblers’ inimitable style.

Rally round the party, raise a glass or two, and give a shout of joy and euphoria!

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Mill Talk: Dirt and Disorder: The Origins of Contamination Control in Industry
Jan
14
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: Dirt and Disorder: The Origins of Contamination Control in Industry

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Mill Talk: Dirt and Disorder: The Origins of Contamination Control in Industry

presented by Dan Holbrook

REGISTER

Free to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

This talk will outline the origins of the need for contamination control in industry and of some of the basic elements of modern contamination control. As technologies and medicine became more complex and precision in both material inputs and production processes more crucial, dirts of various sorts had to be controlled. Over the course of the later 19th and throughout the 20th centuries, precision manufacturing, food processing, gases, medicine, glass, and materials for both tube-based and solid state electronics found that cleanliness and purity allowed order to be established, and with order, control.

Speaker Bio: Dan Holbrook is Professor Emeritus of History at Marshall University, Huntington, WV. He holds a BA in American Studies from Brandeis University and MA and PhD in History from Carnegie Mellon University. His scholarly work has revolved around the generation and dissemination of knowledge in the early years of the American semiconductor industry and on the history of contamination control.

Links:

https://marshall.academia.edu/DanHolbrook


Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

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Industry and Innovation Tour: Time Along the Charles NEW!!
Oct
24
4:00 PM16:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: Time Along the Charles NEW!!

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Industry and Innovation Tour: Time Along the Charles NEW!!

REGISTER

FREE! Space is limited to 20
REGISTRATION REQUIRED


Interested in learning about the local watch and clock factories that were once known worldwide?

What made Waltham a horological capital of the United States?

Or how radium was once used in everyday life?

Come experience the history of Watch City on a FREE walking tour! This guided stroll will be a leisurely-paced 2.5-mile loop and will stop at three major horological landmarks along the way, including the once world-famous Waltham Watch Company's Factory building.

Space is limited and registration is required, so secure your spot today for FREE before it’s sold out! The meeting location to be sent to those who register.


Your Tour Guide:
Nicholas Adams is a lifelong resident of Waltham. After earning his Eagle Scout rank, Nicholas began working at the Charles River Museum in the summer of 2024 as an Education and Multimedia Production intern and has been there since. Nicholas studies Electrical and Computer Engineering at MassBay Community College and loves to share Waltham’s history with others.

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Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World
Oct
24
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World A Gallery Tour

Explore the history of American ingenuity with this new tour, a guided experience that provides an overview of the museum’s collection, highlighting transformative advancements in manufacturing, precision engineering, and industrial technology. 

Visitors will learn about include the revolutionary textile machines of the early factory system, the world-class craftsmanship of Waltham watchmaking, and tools and inventions that shaped the modern age.

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2nd SHIFT Concert: Kaia Kater
Oct
23
8:00 PM20:00

2nd SHIFT Concert: Kaia Kater

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2nd SHIFT Concert: Kaia Kater

Doors Open at 7:30, performance begins at 8
Beer and Wine Cash Bar Service for 21+

TICKETS

kaiakater.com

The CBC calls Kaia Kater’s music “somehow ancient and brand new at the same time.” Kater’s originality as an artist likely stems from the fact that there’s no one else who can claim the same deep and varied array of experiences and heritage. She draws on influences rooted in Quebec, the Caribbean, and Appalachia, her ties to the Canadian folk music scene, her college years spent soaking up Appalachian music in West Virginia, her father’s experience growing up in Grenada, and her recent work in film composition to make the kind of music that only an artist with her story could create.

Her new JUNO Award-winning album, Strange Medicine, was created during a period of deep self-reflection and reinvention. We can’t wait to present her 2nd SHIFT Music Series debut this fall.

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Mill Talk: The Stories of Women War Workers at Raytheon 1941-1945
Oct
22
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: The Stories of Women War Workers at Raytheon 1941-1945

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Mill Talk: The Stories of Women War Workers at Raytheon 1941-1945, From Suffragette to War Worker – and Military Ranks open to Women

presented by Chet Michalak, Raytheon historian and archivist

FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

REGISTER

The Suffragette movement ends the 100-year struggle for Women’s Rights in 1920 and is followed by a home front effort that dramatically increases the ranks of female war workers. The call goes out for women workers by recruitment posters, newspaper and radio ads.


Speaker Bio:

Chet Michalak, Principal Technical Support Engineer with honors with thirty-eight years at Raytheon. In 1977 he joined the U.S. Army 3/2nd Armored Cavalry followed by a tour with the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Chet became Raytheon’s volunteer company historian and archivist after studying with the previous historian Mr. Norman Krim.

Links:

Raytheon Historian Archivist - YouTube

Halfway point intermission musical tribute to women workers.

Remembering Women War Workers Music Tribute


Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

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Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
Oct
18
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt

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Industry and Innovation Tour:
From Bale to Bolt


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.

Learn how this maze of buildings developed from a single brick mill—and why that humble mill was a powerhouse of industry and innovation!

Hone your powers of observation as you learn to read the clues that demystify this and other mill sites in every corner of industrial New England. 

What:
Free, 75-minute guided tours with staff members of the Charles River Museum

(WEATHER PERMITTING)

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.         

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Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG
Oct
17
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

Come learn about the first industrial mill in the United States at the Charles River Museum of Innovation and Industry. Join us as we address the role of women in industrial America. The tour explores the trials and triumphs of mill women who worked in Boston Manufacturing Company and the Boston Associates’ textile mills in Waltham and Lowell, MA. You will hear songs written by the mill women, recorded at a Museum concert performance by historical folk singer Diane Taraz, as well as artifacts and images of the women themselves. These working women act as a case study for industrialization in America.

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

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Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG
Oct
11
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

Come learn about the first industrial mill in the United States at the Charles River Museum of Innovation and Industry. Join us as we address the role of women in industrial America. The tour explores the trials and triumphs of mill women who worked in Boston Manufacturing Company and the Boston Associates’ textile mills in Waltham and Lowell, MA. You will hear songs written by the mill women, recorded at a Museum concert performance by historical folk singer Diane Taraz, as well as artifacts and images of the women themselves. These working women act as a case study for industrialization in America.

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

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Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
Oct
10
12:00 PM12:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour:
From Bale to Bolt


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.

Learn how this maze of buildings developed from a single brick mill—and why that humble mill was a powerhouse of industry and innovation!

Hone your powers of observation as you learn to read the clues that demystify this and other mill sites in every corner of industrial New England. 

What:
Free, 75-minute guided tours with staff members of the Charles River Museum

(WEATHER PERMITTING)

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.         

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SOLD OUT Guided History Walk along the Mass Central Rail Trail
Oct
5
1:30 PM13:30

SOLD OUT Guided History Walk along the Mass Central Rail Trail

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Guided History Walk along the Mass Central Rail Trail

THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT

Learn about the history of the railway on which the Mass Central Rail Trail now sits from Rick Kfoury, President of the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society. Members of the Waltham Historic Society will also share their knowledge. Highlighted stops will include two former station locations, Waltham North and Waltham Highlands (which still stands).

The walk will be roughly 2-miles long and will take place on a paved, level surface. Space is limited, therefore, registration is required. Meeting location to be sent to those who register.

This event is co-sponsored by Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation, Waltham Land Trust, Waltham Historical Society, and the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society

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Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
Oct
4
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour:
From Bale to Bolt


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.

Learn how this maze of buildings developed from a single brick mill—and why that humble mill was a powerhouse of industry and innovation!

Hone your powers of observation as you learn to read the clues that demystify this and other mill sites in every corner of industrial New England. 

What:
Free, 75-minute guided tours with staff members of the Charles River Museum

(WEATHER PERMITTING)

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.         

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SOLD OUT 2nd SHIFT Concert: Darrell Scott
Oct
3
8:00 PM20:00

SOLD OUT 2nd SHIFT Concert: Darrell Scott

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2nd SHIFT Concert: Darrell Scott

THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT!

darrellscott.com

“Acclaimed multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter” and “Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame nominee” are just a couple of many descriptors one could attach to Darrell Scott. You might also in part define Scott by the company he keeps, whether he’s producing albums for country hitmakers like the Zac Brown Band, performing as a member of Robert Plant’s Band of Joy or Steve Earle’s Bluegrass Dukes, or having his songs covered by The Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless, and more. But when it comes right down to it, Darrell Scott may be the most pure, well-rounded artist we’ve hosted for our 2nd SHIFT Music Series to date.

From the blues to bluegrass, there is literally nothing the man can’t do, and he manages to do it all with grace, soul, and generosity of spirit. We are honored to kick off our fall season with this singular, soulful, and spirited artist.

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Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG
Oct
3
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

Come learn about the first industrial mill in the United States at the Charles River Museum of Innovation and Industry. Join us as we address the role of women in industrial America. The tour explores the trials and triumphs of mill women who worked in Boston Manufacturing Company and the Boston Associates’ textile mills in Waltham and Lowell, MA. You will hear songs written by the mill women, recorded at a Museum concert performance by historical folk singer Diane Taraz, as well as artifacts and images of the women themselves. These working women act as a case study for industrialization in America.

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

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Mill Talk: Why are Workers’ Stories Missing at Historic Sites
Oct
1
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: Why are Workers’ Stories Missing at Historic Sites

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Mill Talk: Why are Workers’ Stories Missing at Historic Sites?
Show Me the Workers

FREE TO THE PUBLIC
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

REGISTER

The labor movement in the United States is a bulwark of democracy and a driving force for social and economic equality. Yet its stories remain largely unknown to Americans. Robert Forrant and Mary Anne Trasciatti edited a collection of essays focused on nationwide efforts to propel the history of labor and working people into mainstream narratives of US history. The book, Where Are the Workers?, shows how working-class perspectives can expand our historical memory and inform and inspire contemporary activism. The talk will explore lessons learned from nationwide efforts to promote our understanding of labor and working-class history.

Speaker Bio: Robert Forrant is Distinguished University Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Principal historian on numerous projects funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Lowell National Historical Park, and the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, his newest book, co-edited with Mary Anne Trasciatti, Where are the Workers: Interpreting Labor and Working-Class History at Museums and Historic Sites, was published by the University of Illinois Press in 2022. In early 2024 he published “‘No Avenging Gibet’: The 1860 Pemberton Mill Collapse” in The New England Quarterly.

Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

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Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG
Sep
27
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

Come learn about the first industrial mill in the United States at the Charles River Museum of Innovation and Industry. Join us as we address the role of women in industrial America. The tour explores the trials and triumphs of mill women who worked in Boston Manufacturing Company and the Boston Associates’ textile mills in Waltham and Lowell, MA. You will hear songs written by the mill women, recorded at a Museum concert performance by historical folk singer Diane Taraz, as well as artifacts and images of the women themselves. These working women act as a case study for industrialization in America.

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

View Event →
Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World
Sep
26
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World A Gallery Tour

Explore the history of American ingenuity with this new tour, a guided experience that provides an overview of the museum’s collection, highlighting transformative advancements in manufacturing, precision engineering, and industrial technology. 

Visitors will learn about include the revolutionary textile machines of the early factory system, the world-class craftsmanship of Waltham watchmaking, and tools and inventions that shaped the modern age.

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Panel Discussion: The Role of Strikes in Labor History and Today
Sep
24
7:00 PM19:00

Panel Discussion: The Role of Strikes in Labor History and Today

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Panel Discussion: The Role of Strikes in Labor History and Today

REGISTER

This program is free and open to the public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED


As part of our new exhibit When Waltham Strikes, the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation will host a special panel discussion exploring the history and present-day role of strikes in the labor movement. Moderated by Maya Colman, the panel will feature Christy Nickerson (President, Woburn Teachers Association and MTA Board of Directors), Ryan Normandin (Newton Teachers Association), and other representatives from organized labor.

Together, they will reflect on the power of strikes as a tool of last resort, the experiences of workers on the front lines, and the continuing importance of labor rights in shaping our communities.

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Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World
Sep
19
12:00 PM12:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World A Gallery Tour

Explore the history of American ingenuity with this new tour, a guided experience that provides an overview of the museum’s collection, highlighting transformative advancements in manufacturing, precision engineering, and industrial technology. 

Visitors will learn about include the revolutionary textile machines of the early factory system, the world-class craftsmanship of Waltham watchmaking, and tools and inventions that shaped the modern age.

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Exhibit Opening Reception WHEN WALTHAM STRIKES
Sep
17
7:00 PM19:00

Exhibit Opening Reception WHEN WALTHAM STRIKES

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Come and join us to celebrate the opening of this new and important exhibit on the history of Waltham's labor movement and the first industrial strike in US history.

Light refreshments will be served and there will be brief comments made by Charles River Museum intern and exhibit curator and writer Maya Colman

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Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG
Sep
13
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

Come learn about the first industrial mill in the United States at the Charles River Museum of Innovation and Industry. Join us as we address the role of women in industrial America. The tour explores the trials and triumphs of mill women who worked in Boston Manufacturing Company and the Boston Associates’ textile mills in Waltham and Lowell, MA. You will hear songs written by the mill women, recorded at a Museum concert performance by historical folk singer Diane Taraz, as well as artifacts and images of the women themselves. These working women act as a case study for industrialization in America.

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

View Event →
Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG
Sep
6
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

Come learn about the first industrial mill in the United States at the Charles River Museum of Innovation and Industry. Join us as we address the role of women in industrial America. The tour explores the trials and triumphs of mill women who worked in Boston Manufacturing Company and the Boston Associates’ textile mills in Waltham and Lowell, MA. You will hear songs written by the mill women, recorded at a Museum concert performance by historical folk singer Diane Taraz, as well as artifacts and images of the women themselves. These working women act as a case study for industrialization in America.

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

View Event →
Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
Sep
5
12:00 PM12:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour:
From Bale to Bolt


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.

Learn how this maze of buildings developed from a single brick mill—and why that humble mill was a powerhouse of industry and innovation!

Hone your powers of observation as you learn to read the clues that demystify this and other mill sites in every corner of industrial New England. 

What:
Free, 75-minute guided tours with staff members of the Charles River Museum

(WEATHER PERMITTING)

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.         

View Event →
MassDestruction Resurgence 4: Robot Combat!
Aug
23
10:30 AM10:30

MassDestruction Resurgence 4: Robot Combat!

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MassDestruction Resurgence 4: Robot Combat!


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

Standard Museum Admission applies for general attendees

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

MassDestruction returns once again Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation to bring you an entire day of mechanized mayhem! Expect to see Boston’s brightest put their metal to the metal as we clash 3lb and 1lb robots in our Pyramid of Pain!

MassDestruction brings you only the finest of remote control destruction!

Our talented competitors will have 3 minutes to try to disable each other in a no-holds-barred fight to the robotic response. Hammers, claws, blenders, and iron bars will all be used between the tiny robots who are full of so much energy we have to keep them behind bulletproof glass.

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!


Weight classes
(exact robot counts subject to change):

  • Beetleweight (3 lb): 24 robots

  • Plastic Ant (1 lb, plastic only): 18 robots

Rules: 

  • NERC Ruleset plus some additional rules that will be on the buildersdb page

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Waltham Repair Cafe
Aug
9
11:00 AM11:00

Waltham Repair Cafe

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  • Google Calendar ICS

The Waltham Repair Cafe RETURNS to the Charles River Museum! Repair Cafes bring the community together and provide a place where folks can bring their well-loved, broken items to be fixed by volunteers (if possible).

Free to attend - including free museum entry.

Tips and donations are encouraged, but not required.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We are looking for more people to volunteer to help repair goods, help with administration, or help direct people where to go. I will send an initial email to volunteers later this week.


FAQ: https://www.walthamrc.org/faq
Volunteer sign up: https://www.walthamrc.org/volunteer
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/walthamrc

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Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World
Aug
8
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World A Gallery Tour

Explore the history of American ingenuity with this new tour, a guided experience that provides an overview of the museum’s collection, highlighting transformative advancements in manufacturing, precision engineering, and industrial technology. 

Visitors will learn about include the revolutionary textile machines of the early factory system, the world-class craftsmanship of Waltham watchmaking, and tools and inventions that shaped the modern age.

View Event →
Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG
Aug
7
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

Come learn about the first industrial mill in the United States at the Charles River Museum of Innovation and Industry. Join us as we address the role of women in industrial America. The tour explores the trials and triumphs of mill women who worked in Boston Manufacturing Company and the Boston Associates’ textile mills in Waltham and Lowell, MA. You will hear songs written by the mill women, recorded at a Museum concert performance by historical folk singer Diane Taraz, as well as artifacts and images of the women themselves. These working women act as a case study for industrialization in America.

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

View Event →
Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
Aug
6
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour:
From Bale to Bolt


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.

Learn how this maze of buildings developed from a single brick mill—and why that humble mill was a powerhouse of industry and innovation!

Hone your powers of observation as you learn to read the clues that demystify this and other mill sites in every corner of industrial New England. 

What:
Free, 75-minute guided tours with staff members of the Charles River Museum

(WEATHER PERMITTING)

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.         

View Event →
Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG
Jul
30
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

Come learn about the first industrial mill in the United States at the Charles River Museum of Innovation and Industry. Join us as we address the role of women in industrial America. The tour explores the trials and triumphs of mill women who worked in Boston Manufacturing Company and the Boston Associates’ textile mills in Waltham and Lowell, MA. You will hear songs written by the mill women, recorded at a Museum concert performance by historical folk singer Diane Taraz, as well as artifacts and images of the women themselves. These working women act as a case study for industrialization in America.

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

View Event →
Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
Jul
26
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour:
From Bale to Bolt


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.

Learn how this maze of buildings developed from a single brick mill—and why that humble mill was a powerhouse of industry and innovation!

Hone your powers of observation as you learn to read the clues that demystify this and other mill sites in every corner of industrial New England. 

What:
Free, 75-minute guided tours with staff members of the Charles River Museum

(WEATHER PERMITTING)

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.         

View Event →
Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG
Jul
25
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: THE MILL GIRLS IN STORY & SONG

Come learn about the first industrial mill in the United States at the Charles River Museum of Innovation and Industry. Join us as we address the role of women in industrial America. The tour explores the trials and triumphs of mill women who worked in Boston Manufacturing Company and the Boston Associates’ textile mills in Waltham and Lowell, MA. You will hear songs written by the mill women, recorded at a Museum concert performance by historical folk singer Diane Taraz, as well as artifacts and images of the women themselves. These working women act as a case study for industrialization in America.

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

View Event →
Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World
Jul
24
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World A Gallery Tour

Explore the history of American ingenuity with this new tour, a guided experience that provides an overview of the museum’s collection, highlighting transformative advancements in manufacturing, precision engineering, and industrial technology. 

Visitors will learn about include the revolutionary textile machines of the early factory system, the world-class craftsmanship of Waltham watchmaking, and tools and inventions that shaped the modern age.

View Event →