About 1st Property On National Register Of Historic Places
Also the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and America's first cotton mill
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archaeological resources.
Old Slater Mill, a historic district in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was the first property listed in the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1966. It is also considered the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution where the mighty Blackstone River was harnessed to drive the nation's first cotton spinning mill.
Slater Mill is recognized as the first property to be added to the National Register of Historic Places by U.S. National Park Service. Slater Mill Museum acknowledges it as the first property to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is also the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution according to the US National Park Service. Originally constructed in 1793, this mill stands as an important reminder of the changes brought on by industrialization. Slater Mill is the beginning of everything from machine made goods and hourly wages, to planned communities and labor unions.
It was here that Samuel Slater first successfully implemented Richard Arkwright's water-powered cotton spinning technology in America. In 1793 it was the first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill in the United States. Over two centuries the mill evolved — from textile manufacture to an educational site exploring industrial heritage.
Slater Mill Historic Site preserves and interprets America's Industrial Heritage within three historic buildings on a 5½-acre site. Slater Mill houses historic textile machinery, an information desk, a theater, and a gift shop.
Wilkinson Mill features an operating water wheel, a late 19th-century machine shop, and a gallery. Sylvanus Brown House, an artisan's home, represents life and work before and at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.
The Old Slater Mill includes Slater’s original mill, two additions made during Slater’s lifetime, and a third addition added after Slater’s death. In 2021, the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) acquired Slater Mill and other key historic buildings that are part of the Old Slater Mill Historic District in Pawtucket.
In addition to its historical tours, the site often hosts community events, craft fairs, and seasonal celebrations. The Old Slater Mill serves as a vital part of Pawtucket's cultural heritage, emphasizing the impact of the industrial revolution on the region and the country.