Filtering by: PUBLIC EVENT
Mill Talk: The Final Days of the Central Mass Branch
Jun
18
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: The Final Days of the Central Mass Branch

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

Mill Talk: The Final Days of the Central Mass Branch

presented by Rick Kfoury

This is an IN PERSON event, Free to the public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Once a famous through-route between Boston and Northampton, by the 1970s the Boston & Maine Railroad's Central Mass Branch had seen better days. Yet there was still activity to be seen and photographed, and important history to document. This presentation will provide a visual look into the final years of railroad operations on the Central Mass Branch west of Waltham; included are photographs, documents, and some film footage.

Rick Kfoury is a railroad historian and author with an express interest in New England railroading in the second half of the twentieth century. He has authored four books on the subject, The New England Southern Railroad Volumes I and II, Queen City Rails: Manchester's Railroads 1965-1990, and Steam Trains of Yesteryear: The Monadnock, Steamtown & Northern Story.

A 2018 graduate of the Keene State College history program, Rick currently serves as President and Newsletter Editor for the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society and is employed in college admissions for Southern New Hampshire University.

The Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization composed of people who want to share their knowledge, and learn more about, the history and operations of the Boston and Maine Railroad, its predecessors, and successors. The Society was founded in 1971 and consists of over 1,000 active members from the New England region and beyond.


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

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Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
Jun
20
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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Mill Talk: Living the Harpsichord Life; Building and Breathing the Instrument
Jun
25
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: Living the Harpsichord Life; Building and Breathing the Instrument

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

Mill Talk: Living the Harpsichord Life; Building and Breathing the Instrument

presented by Hendrik Broekman

FREE TO THE PUBLIC
Registration Required

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM ITS ORIGINAL MAY DATE

 Join us for a night at the Charles River Museum with Henrik Broekman where the small talk question of “What do you do for work?” will be expanded into a curiosity-driven discussion of what it is like to pursue your bliss and fully immerse yourself in the world of harpsichords. Throughout his decades of experience in this industry, Hendrik has found himself constantly asked about the craftsmanship behind these exquisite instruments, how they are manufactured, and more. He will be answering these questions while sharing what it is like to build and create a career centered around harpsichords.

Henrik Broekman has been a pioneering craftsman, musician, and harpsichord builder for over 50 years. He worked with both Frank Hubbard and Eric Hertz, though most of his career was spent as Technical Director in the Hubbard Shop. He took over operations after the retirement of Diane Hubbard in 2000 and still plays, repairs, and builds harpsichords.


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

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Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
Jun
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.         

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Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World
Jun
27
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: Manufacturing the Modern World
Jul
10
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: From Bale to Bolt
Jul
12
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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Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
Jul
18
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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Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
Jul
23
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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Mill Talk: Mother Brook: The Evolution of Industry Along the Country’s Oldest Power Canal
Jul
23
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: Mother Brook: The Evolution of Industry Along the Country’s Oldest Power Canal

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

Mill Talk: Mother Brook: The Evolution of Industry Along the Country’s Oldest Power Canal

presented by Judy Neiswander

This is an IN PERSON Event, FREE to the public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Excavated between 1639 and 1641, the Mother Brook canal in Dedham is arguably the oldest power canal in North America. The waterway connects the Charles and the Neponset Rivers by way of an inland spring-fed brook. This created a fall of water that was strong enough to power the town’s first grist mill. Join us at the Charles River Museum for a night with Judy Neiswander who will be discussing industrial uses of the canal and East Dedham’s evolution into a powerhouse of textile production.


Judy Neiswander, Ph.D., is an independent scholar and former Dedham resident. During her time on the town’s Historic District Commission/Historical Commission she oversaw the historic survey of Mother Brook and the mill area of East Dedham, as well as the creation of a National Register District centered on the Mill Pond and surrounding buildings. She is the author of Mother Brook and the Mills of East Dedham, published in September, 2024.

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

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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 →
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.         

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

MassDestruction Resurgence 4: Robot Combat!

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

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

2nd SHIFT Concert: Darrell Scott

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

2nd SHIFT Concert: Darrell Scott

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

2nd SHIFT Concert: Kaia Kater

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

2nd SHIFT Concert: Kaia Kater

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

2nd SHIFT Concert: Maya de Vitry

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

2nd SHIFT Concert: Maya de Vitry

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

2nd SHIFT Concert: The Wolff Sisters

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

2nd SHIFT Concert: The Wolff Sisters

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

2nd SHIFT Concert: Hickman, Anick & Woodsmith

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

2nd SHIFT Concert: Hickman, Anick & Woodsmith

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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Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World
Jun
7
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 →
Mill Talk: A Revolutionary Problem: Making Saltpeter During the War of Independence
Jun
4
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: A Revolutionary Problem: Making Saltpeter During the War of Independence

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

Mill Talk: A Revolutionary Problem: Making Saltpeter During the War of Independence


presented by David Hsiung

FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED


250 years ago, the revolution that would lead to our country’s independence was in its early stages. The Continental Army was facing a major problem, gunpowder shortages. Join the Charles River Musuem for an exploration of how the production of saltpeter, the principal ingredient of this explosive material, changed the course of history.

This talk will explore the different ways saltpeter was manufactured by Americans, the wide variety of instructions that guided their efforts, and the motivations-both lofty and materialist-that drove them forward.

A native of the Chicago area, David C. Hsuing earned his B.A. from Yale, his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and ever since has taught history at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, He has won multiple awards for his teaching and scholarship, including an award from the Forest History Society for his article, “Food, Fuel, and the New England Environment in the War for Independence, 1775-1776" in The New England Quarterly. He is currently writing a book on the environmental history of the War of Independence.

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

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Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
May
30
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 →
Mill Talk-Reinventing Cotton: Entrepreneurship and the Future of Production
May
28
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk-Reinventing Cotton: Entrepreneurship and the Future of Production

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

Mill Talk-Reinventing Cotton: Entrepreneurship and the Future of Production

presented by Luciano Bueno

Free to the Public, REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Join us at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation for a talk with Luciano Bueno who will explore how bold entrepreneurship is redefining the cotton industry through the lens of future-forward production. From lab-grown breakthroughs to cutting-edge technologies, he will share how next-generation ventures are transforming the way we make things—faster, cleaner, and smarter. This isn’t just about cotton; it’s a glimpse into the industrial revolutions of tomorrow. Luciano will dive into the challenges, the untapped opportunities, and how entrepreneurial vision can lead to massive impacts.

Luciano Bueno is an American Brazilian entrepreneur who started his journey at 16, selling t-shirts door-to-door to support his family. Doing so he learned grit, hustle, and the art of turning no into yes. Today, he is the founder and CEO of GALY, a frontier tech company pioneering a new age of production through cellular agriculture. Starting with cotton, GALY’s process is 10x faster, 500x more productive, and 80% more resource efficient than production methods—creating new possibilities beyond the constraints of land, weather, or infrastructure.

Before founding GALY, Luciano built a career in consulting, auditing, startups, and venture capital, working across sectors like global payments, retail, textiles, and agriculture. He also helped launch two innovative schools in Brazil. He holds a business degree, completed postgraduate studies in biotechnology at MIT, and earned an OPM from Harvard Business School, with executive education at Stanford and other learning institutions.

Luciano moved to the U.S. as an EB-1 Green Card recipient, known as the “Einstein visa,” and continues to mentor young entrepreneurs, volunteer with the Red Cross, and pursue passions like travel, chess, and extreme sports, His mission is clear: build world-changing companies and empower the next generation of builders.

Luciano’s philosophy: Hard work outpaces smart work every time, and those who believe they can or can’t are usually right.


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

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Upcycling at the Mill Hand Sewing Workshop
May
24
11:00 AM11:00

Upcycling at the Mill Hand Sewing Workshop

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

Upcycling at the Mill: Hand Sewing Workshop

(ages 12+ and adults) 
$18 Materials and Instruction fee
Space is limited

Give new life to old textiles in this hands-on workshop at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation!

With 11.5 million tons of fabric wasted annually, upcycling offers a creative way to reduce waste while learning hand sewing, embroidery, and darning techniques. Held in the historic mill where America’s textile industry began, this class connects past and present by transforming worn clothing into something new.

Bring your own fabric items and reimagine them with sustainability and creativity in mind! 


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Panel Discussion: Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History with moderator Laura Carlo
May
23
7:00 PM19:00

Panel Discussion: Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History with moderator Laura Carlo

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

Panel Discussion: Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History

featuring Hendrik Broekman, Allan Winkler, and Mark Kroll.
Moderated by Laura Carlo

This is an IN PERSON Event, FREE to the public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Join us for a panel discussion moderated by WGBH Classical’s Laura Carlo at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation as part of our special exhibition Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History.

Harpsichordists and builders Henrik Broekman and Allan Winkler, and harpsichordist and BU Professor emeritus Mark Kroll will be discussing the legacy of Hubbard Harpsichords of Waltham. Speakers will also touch upon the manufacturing of these intricate instruments, and their role in reviving and popularizing early music.

There will be an opportunity for audience questions as well.


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
May
17
11:00 AM11:00

Waltham Repair Cafe

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

IT’S BACK! 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
May
16
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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Mill Talk: The New Lunar Society: An Enlightenment Guide to the Next Industrial Revolution
May
14
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: The New Lunar Society: An Enlightenment Guide to the Next Industrial Revolution

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Mill Talk: The New Lunar Society: An Enlightenment Guide to the Industrial Revolution

Presented by David Mindell
Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Dibner Professor of the History of Engineering and Manufacturing at MIT

Free to the public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Climate change, global disruption, and labor scarcity are forcing us to rethink the underlying principles of industrial society. How can a new generation reanimate the best ideas of our industrial forebearers and begin to build a realistic and human-centered future? Join us at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation for a conversation with David Mindell who envisions a new form of industrialism that draws upon the first principles of the Industrial Revolution that date back to the 18th Century in his recent book The New Lunar Society.

While discussing new industrialism, he will tell the story of the Lunar Society, a group of engineers, scientists, and industrialists who came together to apply the principles of the Enlightenment to industrial processes. The Lunar Society included pioneers like James Watt, Benjamin Franklin, and Josiah Wedgwood whose conversations both ignited the Industrial Revolution and shaped the founding of the United States.


David Mindell is Professor Aerospace Engineering and Dibner Professor of the History of Engineering and Manufacturing at MIT. He has led or participated in more than 25 oceanographic expeditions, written seven books, and holds 34 patents in RF navigation, autonomous systems, and AI-assisted piloting. He is also Founder and Executive Chair of Humatics, a navigation technology company based in Waltham, and Cofounder of Unless, an investment firm that is catalyzing the next technological revolution.

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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NextGen STEMFest: Innovate and Create
May
10
10:00 AM10:00

NextGen STEMFest: Innovate and Create

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NextGenSTEM Fest is a different STEM festival


The inaugural NextGen STEMFest is a day-long community-focused STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) occurring on May 10th, 2025 at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham, MA.

The festival hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and the event is suitable for all ages!

To learn all about the Fest and the planned activities and workshops, visit:

With funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) the NextGen STEMFest celebrates the 75th year that the NSF has played in incubating and supporting innovation and discovery that has changed and improved the lives of so many in the United States. At the NextGen STEMFest come let your curiosity wander with interactive learning activities and experiences from some of the worlds top STEM companies and University research labs. You will see and learn about regenerative medicine, new biotechnologies, hear from young people about their college STEM experiences, learn about physical computing, and more.

You can sign up to learn how to use a laser, how to 3D print nearly anything, screen printing at Massachusetts’ only youth-led innovation maker-space, the Charles River Collaboratory located at the Charles River Museum of Industry of Innovation.

While you are at NextGen STEMFest you can also visit the Charles River Museum of Industry which will be free to visitors for the day and at the same time just a few hundred yards away is will be the famous Watch City Steampunk festival.

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Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
May
9
11:00 AM11:00

Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
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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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Upcycling at the Mill Hand Sewing Workshop
May
3
11:00 AM11:00

Upcycling at the Mill Hand Sewing Workshop

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
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Upcycling at the Mill: Hand Sewing Workshop

(ages 12+ and adults) 
$18 Materials and Instruction fee
Space is limited

Give new life to old textiles in this hands-on workshop at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation!

With 11.5 million tons of fabric wasted annually, upcycling offers a creative way to reduce waste while learning hand sewing, embroidery, and darning techniques. Held in the historic mill where America’s textile industry began, this class connects past and present by transforming worn clothing into something new.

Bring your own fabric items and reimagine them with sustainability and creativity in mind! 


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2nd SHIFT Concert: Laura Cantrell
May
1
8:00 PM20:00

2nd SHIFT Concert: Laura Cantrell

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2nd SHIFT Concert: Laura Cantrell

Tickets $25

lauracantrell.com

Ever since her debut Not The Trembling Kind dropped 25 years ago, country singer Laura Cantrell has been perfecting her own sparkling blend of Americana music. Cantrell’s songs are delivered in a voice both honest and unadorned, and her version of country music is imbued with the buoyant catchiness of classic pop and rock n’ roll.

In addition to singing her own songs everywhere from Prairie Home Companion to The Grand Ole Opry, Cantrell also hosts “Dark Horse Radio,” a show devoted to the music of George Harrison on SiriusXM's The Beatles Channel.

Cantrell embodies the conviction of a modern woman singing country music, and we can’t think of a better way to close out our Spring 2025 season.

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Industry and Innovation Tour: From Bale to Bolt
Apr
18
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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Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World
Apr
5
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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Mill Talk: Baby Food and the Industrialization of Taste in the United States
Apr
3
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: Baby Food and the Industrialization of Taste in the United States

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Mill Talk: Baby Food and the Industrialization of Taste in the United States

presented by Professor Amy Bentley, New York University

Free to the public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

When Francis Cabot Lowell revolutionized industrial manufacturing, he could never have imagined that industrialization at scale would change everything about the way we work, live, and even eat. Join us for an eye-opening talk from NYU Professor Amy Bentley as she traces the development of the modern American diet as it became another sector of the mass manufacturing commercial economy. Food could be processed, packaged, and sold faster, more efficiently, and in huge quantities – but there were serious unintended consequences. Her case study – baby food.

By the 1950s, commercial baby food had become emblematic of all things modern in postwar

America. Little jars of baby food were thought to resolve a multitude of problems in the domestic sphere, but these baby food products laden with sugar, salt, and starch also became a gateway to the industrialized diet that blossomed during this period.

Today, baby food continues to be shaped by medical, commercial, and parenting trends. Baby food producers now contend with health and nutrition problems as well as the rise of alternative food movements. All of this matters because it’s during infancy that palates become acclimated to tastes and textures, including those of highly processed, minimally nutritious, and calorie-dense industrial food products.


Speaker Bio: Amy Bentley is Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at New York University, a 2024-25 NYU Humanities Fellow, and recipient of a 2024 NYU Distinguished Teaching Award. A historian with interests in the social, historical, and cultural contexts of food, she is the author of Inventing Baby Food: Taste, Health, and the Industrialization of the American Diet (California, 2014), (James Beard Award finalist, and ASFS Best Book Award).

Current research projects include a history of food in US hospitals, the cultural and historical contexts of meat and dairy substitutes, the cultural contexts of food waste, the role of flavor in human and planetary health, and an assessment of how historians write about food. She has been featured as an expert on the science of the American diet, most recently in the New York Times Magazine article “Ozempic Could Crush the Junk Food Industry. But It Is Fighting Back” (Nov. 19, 2024).

https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/people/amy-bentley

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: A Revolutionary Problem: Making Saltpeter During the War of Independence
Apr
3
4:30 PM16:30

Mill Talk: A Revolutionary Problem: Making Saltpeter During the War of Independence

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Mill Talk: A Revolutionary Problem: Making Saltpeter During the War of Independence

presented by David Hsiung

FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

250 years ago, the revolution that would lead to our country’s independence was in its early stages. The Continental Army was facing a major problem, gunpowder shortages. Join the Charles River Musuem for an exploration of how the production of saltpeter, the principal ingredient of this explosive material, changed the course of history.

This talk will explore the different ways saltpeter was manufactured by Americans, the wide variety of instructions that guided their efforts, and the motivations-both lofty and materialist-that drove them forward.

A native of the Chicago area, David C. Hsuing earned his B.A. from Yale, his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and ever since has taught history at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, He has won multiple awards for his teaching and scholarship, including an award from the Forest History Society for his article, “Food, Fuel, and the New England Environment in the War for Independence, 1775-1776" in The New England Quarterly. He is currently writing a book on the environmental history of the War of Independence.


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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Upcycling at the Mill Hand Sewing Workshop
Mar
29
11:00 AM11:00

Upcycling at the Mill Hand Sewing Workshop

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

Upcycling at the Mill: Hand Sewing Workshop

(ages 12+ and adults) 
$18 Materials and Instruction fee
Space is limited

Give new life to old textiles in this hands-on workshop at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation!

With 11.5 million tons of fabric wasted annually, upcycling offers a creative way to reduce waste while learning hand sewing, embroidery, and darning techniques. Held in the historic mill where America’s textile industry began, this class connects past and present by transforming worn clothing into something new.

Bring your own fabric items and reimagine them with sustainability and creativity in mind! 


View Event →
Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World
Mar
28
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: The Folk Collective “Folk & Femme in Full Bloom”
Mar
27
8:00 PM20:00

2nd SHIFT Concert: The Folk Collective “Folk & Femme in Full Bloom”

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2nd SHIFT Concert: The Folk Collective “Folk & Femme in Full Bloom”

featuring ALMA VATYA, Naomi Westwater, Pamela Means, and Photocomfort

Tickets $25

Folk & Femme: In Full Bloom is a celebration of the Divine Feminine—a journey through the many layers of womanhood, sisterhood, and feminine energy. This show dares to move beyond the physical definitions and roles that patriarchy has long used to confine femininity. Instead, it reclaims and redefines what it means to embody the feminine—not as a set of limitations, but as a boundless source of power and possibility.

While nurturing is often seen as the cornerstone of femininity, it is just one piece of a greater whole. This evening, we explore the often overlooked and undervalued aspects of the feminine—resilience, sensuality, creativity, intuition, and adaptability—that shape and enrich our experiences.

Featuring captivating performances by Naomi Westwater, Pamela Means, ALMA VATYA, and Photocomfort, this event highlights the voices and stories of cis women, transgender women, non-binary individuals, and all who embody the essence of the Divine Feminine.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we invite you to join this vibrant conversation and reflect on what it means to be feminine in full bloom. Together, let us create a space where femininity is celebrated in all its complexity, beauty, and strength.

ALMA VATYA  is a twenty-one-year-old guitarist, singer, and banjo player who performs American vernacular music inspired and informed by a lifelong exploration of pre-war country blues, ballads, and spirituals. ALMA grew up in the high desert of Bisbee, Arizona. Her love for country blues began when a neighbor gave her a small handmade fretless banjo along with cassettes of Mance Lipscomb and Mississippi Fred McDowell.  Her polyrhythmic guitar and banjo stylings and nuanced vocals have been honed through hundreds of performances to national and international audiences. 

Naomi Westwater (she/they) is a queer, Black-multiracial singer-songwriter and producer from Massachusetts. They weave in and out of Folk music, flirting with rock and jazz. Naomi holds a Master of Music in Contemporary Performance and Production from Berklee College of Music. She was nominated for a 2021 Boston Music Award for Best Singer-Songwriter. Naomi’s 2021 EP Feelings was featured in Under The Radar, WBUR, Vanyaland, WGBH, Allston Pudding, and The Bluegrass Situation.

Pamela Means is an Easthampton MA-based Out(spoken), Biracial, independent artist whose “kamikaze guitar style” and punchy provocative songs have worn a hole in two of her acoustic guitars. With razor wit, an engaging presence, elegant poetry, irresistible charm, plus jokes, Pamela Means’s “stark, defiant songs” (New York Times) set the status quo and the stage afire.

Photocomfort is the platform for Boston-based artist Justine Bowe’s careful, expansive pop. Photocomfort is the distillation of the exacting songwriting, production and performance craftsmanship she lends to other recording projects like Hex Girlfriend, Anjimile, and Cliff Notez. She borrows as much from 90s radio heroes like Alanis Morissette and Dido as from Joanna Newsom or Radiohead. Huge vocal hooks soar over nimble arrangements, presenting the self-doubt and isolation born from the pursuit of “the dream” of being an artist as harrowing, irresistible and irresistibly catchy.


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Mill Talk: Levi’s®: The Youngest  Oldest Brand in the World
Mar
26
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: Levi’s®: The Youngest Oldest Brand in the World

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
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Mill Talk: Levi’s®: The Youngest Oldest Brand in the World

presented by Tracey Panek, Historian & Director of Archives, Levi Strauss & Co.

FREE to the public, REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Join the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation for a captivating Mill Talk on the history of Levi Strauss & Co., the invention of the modern blue jean, or riveted denim pant, and how a historic American brand continues to stay relevant today. Tracey Panek, Historian and Director of Archives at Levi Strauss & Co., will explore how this American brand, founded by an immigrant during the California Gold Rush, revolutionized fashion and became a global icon.

This talk is especially fitting at the Charles River Museum, the site of Francis Cabot Lowell’s first cotton textile mill, where America’s industrial revolution transformed fabric production and laid the foundation for the mass manufacturing of textiles—including the denim used to create the first Levi’s® blue jeans. Discover how industrial ingenuity, and a patented innovation, shaped what we wear today and helped define American culture.

Speaker Bio: Tracey Panek is the Historian for Levi Strauss & Co. and Director of Archives at the company’s world headquarters in San Francisco. She manages the day-to-day workings of the Levi Strauss & Co. Archives as a key corporate asset, answering historical questions, assisting designers, brand managers, executives and other employees whose work requires historical materials in the Archives. She regularly hunts for unique vintage Levi’s® garments and unusual Levi’s® items to add to the Archives.

Tracey is a contributor to Unzipped, the company’s blog, writing about company history, vintage Levi’s® garments, and behind-the-scenes work in the Archives. She narrates the video series From the Levi’s® Archives on YouTube and From the Levi’s® Archives on TikTok. Tracey is the media spokesperson for Levi Strauss & Co. 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: From Bale to Bolt
Mar
22
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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Mill Talk: The Greater Boston School of Harpsichord Building/Opening: “Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History”
Mar
20
6:00 PM18:00

Mill Talk: The Greater Boston School of Harpsichord Building/Opening: “Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History”

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
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Mill Talk: The Greater Boston School of Harpsichord Building

Mill Talk: “The Greater Boston School of Harpsichord Building”

Opening: “Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History” Special Exhibition

(6:00 PM Exhibit Opening, 7:00 PM Discussion)

presented by Mark Kroll, Professor Emeritus, Boston University

FREE to the Public, Registration Required

Join us for the kickoff of our very special exhibition, Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History, which will examine the story of Frank and Diane Hubbard, founders and operators of Hubbard Harpsichords manufacturers of instruments and kits for almost 50 years. Through their work, Greater Boston became a center of the revivial of the harpsichord as an instrument and Early Music as a genre. Mark Kroll has written the definitive book on chronicling this important period of music history and collected dozens of firsthand accounts of the principal players, workers, and artisans associated with the ‘Big Three’ harpsichord shops in Greater Boston – Hubbard in Waltham, William Dowd and Eric Herz, both in Cambridge.

Kroll will give a talk that sets the context in which the Hubbards’ shop at the Lyman Estate carriage house expanded to the old Cotton Picker Building of the Boston Manufacturing Factory site on Moody Street. Hubbard Harpsichords pioneered the use of DIY kits that became popular in the 1960s and 70s, many of which were built in this mill complex.

This Mill Talk marks the grand opening of Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History, a special exhibition on the artisanship, industry, and art of designing and building harpsichords, exemplified by those of the Hubbard shop. This three-month exhibition will include a full harpsichord, wood-bending frames, tools and materials of the trade, and imagery from the Hubbard shop that centers the workers who created instruments and kits for decades on site. Over the course of its installation, the program will include music, informational talks, panel discussions, and other special events to bring this almost-forgotten part of Waltham’s and Greater Boston’s music history back to the forefront.

March 22, 2025: Mark Kroll performs chamber music concert at the Charles River Museum (free, registration required) (supported in part by the Waltham Cultural Council)

Speaker Bio: Professor emeritus Mark Kroll, Boston University:
Mark Kroll’s distinguished career as a performer, scholar and educator spans a period of more than fifty years. He has appeared in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia as a recitalist and chamber musician, winning critical praise for his expressive playing and virtuosity. He has also performed as concerto soloist with the world’s major orchestras and served as harpsichordist for the Boston Symphony from 1979-2008. Kroll’s extensive list of recordings includes the music of Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Biber, Duphly, Balbastre, Royer, Schubert, and Hummel; a 10-disc set of the complete pièces de clavecin of François Couperin; critically acclaimed CDs of contemporary harpsichord music; and Dutilleux’s Les Citations with the Boston Symphony Chamber Players.

Equally active as a scholar, Kroll has published eight books— Bach, Handel and Scarlatti: Reception in Britain 1750-1850; The Cambridge Companion to the Harpsichord; Ignaz Moscheles and the Changing World of Musical Europe; Playing the Harpsichord Expressively; The Beethoven Violin Sonatas; Johann Nepomuk Hummel: A Musician and His World (a second edition and a Slovakian translation were published this year in Bratislava); The Boston School of Harpsichord Building; and an annotated facsimile of part III of J. N. Hummel’s piano treatise—plus numerous chapters and articles, and scholarly editions for Bärenreiter, Ut Orpheus and A-R Editions. His book, Contemporary Harpsichord Music Since 1900, is in preparation.

A dedicated educator, Kroll is Professor emeritus at Boston University, where he served for twenty-five years as Professor of Harpsichord and Chair of the Department of Historical Performance. He teaches and lectures worldwide and has been visiting professor and guest lecturer at Northeastern University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale and Princeton Universities, and others throughout the United States.

Links:
Mark Kroll: Personal Website
The Boston School of Harpsichord Building (2019) Edwin Mellen Press


March 22, 2025: Mark Kroll performs chamber music concert at the Charles River Museum (free, registration required) (supported in part by the Waltham Cultural Council)

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The 2025 N.E.M.E.S. New England Model Engineering Show
Mar
15
10:00 AM10:00

The 2025 N.E.M.E.S. New England Model Engineering Show

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!

Standard Museum admission applies.

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!

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!

For over quarter of a century, the men and women of the New England Model Engineering Society brought their incredible working model steam and gas engines, Rube-Goldberg devices, and so much more out to play for the enjoyment of people of all ages under the roof of the Charles River Museum.

For more information on EXHIBITING,
and the New England Model Engineering Society,
visit: neme-s.org

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Industry and Innovation Tour: Manufacturing the Modern World
Mar
14
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 →
2nd SHIFT Concert: Robinson & Rohe
Mar
13
8:00 PM20:00

2nd SHIFT Concert: Robinson & Rohe

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
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2nd SHIFT Concert: Robinson & Rohe

Tickets $25

robinsonandrohe.com

The Brooklyn-based songwriter duo of Liam Robinson (banjo, accordion, vocals) and Jean Rohe (guitar, vocals) were brought together over fifteen years ago by their mutual love of afternoon song-swaps, American folk ballads, and wordplay. As embodied on Into The Night, their 2023 release on Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe Records, theirs is an acoustic, organic, literary, and impressionistic take on roots music.

A Robinson & Rohe live show is a powerful showcase of effortless harmonies, soulful grooves, playful humor, and razor-sharp lyrics. Anaïs Mitchell is a fan, calling Robinson & Rohe “a portrait of togetherness and honest, defiant joy in a messy world.” Come on out and we think you become fans, too.

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Mill Talk: Waltham on the Charles: Canoeing Capital of the World in the Early 1900s
Mar
12
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: Waltham on the Charles: Canoeing Capital of the World in the Early 1900s

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
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Mill Talk: “Waltham on the Charles: Canoeing Capital of the World in the Early 1900s”

presented by Benson Gray

FREE to the public, Registration required

With a presentation display of three canoes in our collection – two HB Arnolds and one Robertson Racing Canoe

At the turn of the last century, Waltham was a hub of canoeing and canoe manufacturing at the intersection of athletics, recreation, and craftmanship. A new industrial working class developed in Waltham and surrounding areas as companies like Boston Manufacturing and Waltham Watch employed thousands of line workers. Along with industrialization, leisure activities gained popularity as these same workers looked to the river to relax, socialize, and have fun on the weekends. The weekend itself is a consequence of industrialization and the factory work week.

In Waltham, builders like HB Arnold, Waltham Canoe, and others were at work crafting, renting, and selling their canoes. Large boathouses, dancehalls, and canoe launches popped up all along the stretch of the Charles from Moody Street back up to Newton Upper Falls. Come, hear about the innovative canoe builders on the Charles and the new leisure working class they served.

On view as part of Benson’s talk will be three wonderful examples of period canoes – two that were crafted by the HB Arnold Company of Waltham, and a Robertson racing canoe built in Auburndale. Two of our canoes were recently and expertly restored by members of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association, Norumbega Branch.

Speaker Bio: Benson Gray grew up in Old Town, Maine, and has always loved canoes, so it was exciting to discover that many others shared an appreciation for these wonderful boats. His work with computers, combined with an interest in the history of canoes, has led to some fascinating collaborations. In the 1990s, he initiated a project to scan the Old Town Canoe Company catalogs, which later evolved into a much larger effort encompassing a variety of canoe manufacturers, with significant help from Dan Miller and others. His largest wooden canoe history project involved scanning most of the Old Town, Carleton, and Kennebec build records. These projects have made the history of canoes more accessible to everyone, but the true essence of an organization like the Charles River Museum lies in connecting people who share an interest in wooden canoes. 

Links:  Wooden Canoe Heritage Association

Maine Boats: "An Heirloom Canoe An Old Town family boat finds its way home" 

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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Upcycling at the Mill Hand Sewing Workshop
Mar
8
11:00 AM11:00

Upcycling at the Mill Hand Sewing Workshop

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Upcycling at the Mill: Hand Sewing Workshop

(ages 12+ and adults) 
$18 Materials and Instruction fee
Space is limited

Give new life to old textiles in this hands-on workshop at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation!

With 11.5 million tons of fabric wasted annually, upcycling offers a creative way to reduce waste while learning hand sewing, embroidery, and darning techniques. Held in the historic mill where America’s textile industry began, this class connects past and present by transforming worn clothing into something new.

Bring your own fabric items and reimagine them with sustainability and creativity in mind! 


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