Birthplace

Visit locations related to Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley not in the monument. These include two homes where Emmett and Mamie Till-Mobley lived, Argo Corn Products, and the Burr Oak Cemetery. Some of these locations are not open to the public. Please respect private property. Find the full Chicago tour on the Emmett Till Memory Project .

The picnic area at Booker T. Washington National Monument sits on a shaded hillside next to the visitor center parking lot, offering a comfortable outdoor space for visitors to rest and eat. Location & Access The picnic area is located on a shaded hillside near the visitor center. A paved pathway connects the parking lot to the picnic tables, ensuring convenient access from the main entrance. An accessible picnic table and grill are located adjacent to the parking lot to accommodate visitors with mobility needs. Facilities Tables: Approximately twelve picnic tables are available. Grills: Three grills are provided. All tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis; reservations are not available. Atmosphere & Use The area is ideal for picnics during park visits, with the shaded hillside offering a comfortable setting for meals. The picnic area is part of the monument’s grounds, which include a visitor center, a historical core, and walking trails. This location offers a convenient option for visitors who want to combine sightseeing with a meal. Visitors should bring their own food and supplies. The shaded hillside and proximity to the visitor center create a quiet, scenic environment for a break during a visit. Please remember to take your picnic items and litter with you so everyone can enjoy a clean and pleasant space.

Join a Park Ranger and explore the Blackstone River Valley. During the months of June, July, and August, park staff offer specialty tours at varying locations across the Blackstone River Watershed. These programs begin at 6:30 PM and are 60-minutes long. Please wear comfortable footwear and bring water. Most tours are outside and often include walking on uneven surfaces on varying types of terrain with no access to bathroom facilities. Bug spray and sunscreen are also highly suggested. Please Note: There will be no Walkabout on July 2. June 4: From Forge to Fortune in Northbridge Location: 50 Douglas Rd, Whitinsville, MA How did the Revolutionary generation in Northridge set the stage for the future of American industry? Learn how a small forge along the Mumford River gave rise to a textile giant and a blueprint for American innovation. Tour will begin near the historic forge building, located within the Open Sky complex. June 11: Seeds of Success in Slatersville Location: 101 Green St, North Smithfield, RI Why was this location, along the Branch River, chosen for a mill village? How did financiers, workers, ministers, and farmers make this a thriving industrial community? This walk will take us through the well-preserved core of the country’s first planned mill village. Tour begins at Heritage Hall—parking is available in a small adjacent lot and by the Town Hall. June 18: "Owning Our History" with Peter Laarman Location: One Benevolent Street, Providence, RI Gather at the First Unitarian Church to explore the historic church and neighborhood and learn how slavery built dynastic wealth in Rhode Island. This tour will begin at the First Unitarian Church (corner of Benevolent and Benefit streets). June 25: Stepping Out to Skull Rock Lock Location: 300 Quaker Hwy, Uxbridge, MA Discover the history of Skull Rock Lock and take a walk with a ranger from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Meet in the parking lot of Uxbridge High School in Uxbridge, MA. Meet the rangers at Uxbridge High School. July 9: The Transportation Revolution in the Valley Location: Plummer's Landing Parking Area, Northbridge, MA Explore Plummer’s Landing and learn about the enterprising people of the Blackstone Valley who built the infrastructure for a transportation revolution. Meet at the Plummer’s Landing parking area (bit.ly/plummerslanding). Expect to walk about two miles on rugged terrain with moderate inclines. Led with a ranger from Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Look for a small lot located off Church Street Extension in Northbridge. July 16: Heritage and Landscape in Hopedale Location: 2 Peace St, Hopedale, MA What defines a commune or a company town? How have the residents of Hopedale built lives in each of these types of communities? Take an evening stroll through Hopedale, a town with centuries of history. Look for a ranger by the statue of Adin Ballou - on-street parking is available. July 23: Prosperity in Providence - A Tour of Lippitt House Location: 199 Hope St, Providence, RI Step into Providence’s Golden Age during a guided tour of Lippitt House Museum. A National Historic Landmark, Lippitt House has one of the best-preserved Victorian-era interiors in America. Following the Lippitt family’s example of public service, today the Museum is a place where art, history, and community converge. Presented with Preserve Rhode Island. Seek on-street parking and meet in front of Lippitt House. July 30: The Rockdale Mill - A Historic Tribute to Centuries of Manufacturing Location: 10 Sutton St, Northbridge, MA In the 19th century, the Whitins of Northbridge, Massachusetts built a formidable family enterprise. In the 1860s, matriarch Betsey Whitin divided the then multi-faceted business between her sons. Paul Whitin Jr. took control of the Rockdale and Riverdale Mills. Join us as we take a closer look at the legacy that is the Rockdale Mill. Special note: this tour will meet at the corner of Rte. 122 and Central Turnpike (Curtain Factory Outlet is on lower level). Gather at the entrance to Mill at 5 Points – parking is available. August 6: Navigating the Blackstone Canal, Past and Present Location: Collyer Street Gate, North Burial Ground, Providence, RI Enjoy a guided walk through North Burial Ground with Annalisa Heppner. Learn about the flow of the Blackstone Canal through a trench running through North Burial Ground. Visit the gravesites of industrialists whose fortunes depended on the canal, and other local residents. Look for the gate to enter North Burial Ground on Collyer Street. August 13: Holocaust Education and Memorial Walk Location: 282 N. Main St., Providence, RI Walk to Memorial Park with Dr. Laura Auketayeva, Director of Education and Programs at Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. This tour will include a guided exploration of the Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial in Providence, RI. Meet at Roger Williams National Memorial. Limited, off-street parking is available in the Roger Williams National Memorial lot. August 20: Revolutions in Ashton Location: 51 Front St., Cumberland, RI In 1820, a small mill village was constructed in present-day Lincoln, Rhode Island. Over the next forty years, Ashton expanded into a large community that experienced revolutions in transportation and industry. Join a ranger for a guided walk through this well-preserved Rhode Island system mill village and learn about the many changes experienced by this community and the people who lived and worked there. Please use parking provided for the Blackstone River Bikeway. August 27: Commemorations and Community in Pawtucket Location: 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI In August 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette traveled through Pawtucket. Lafayette’s very popular tour through the United States was an early commemoration of the country’s War for Independence. This walk will explore Revolutionary history in Pawtucket and discuss Lafayette’s extensive tour. Meet at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark in Pawtucket. Parking is available in a lot next to the historic Slater Mill.

The Junior Ranger program helps kids get involved and learn more about Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. Anyone can become a Junior Ranger by completing activities during a visit to the park. Get a free Junior Ranger Activity Book from the Visitor Center . Follow the activity instructions in the activity book. When the activity book is complete, return to the Visitor Center to receive your official Junior Ranger badge for Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. Due to high-demand and limited supplies, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site is only able to sustain in-person Junior Ranger programming and is unable to accommodate requests for Junior Ranger materials to be mailed out for at-home and remote participation. If you require an accommodation ahead of your visit to our site, please let us know. If you visited Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and participated in our Junior Ranger Program but were unable to receive a badge during your visit, please let us know. You can download a preview of the activity book here .

Slater Mill is called the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, but what does that really mean? What occurred within the four walls of Old Slater Mill forever changed the fabric of the United States of America. These 30 - 45 minute long tours examine the beginnings of American industry and its lasting effects. Tours are offered seasonally. See below of more details. Please Note: For visitor safety, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or canceled if the heat index is at or above 87 degrees Fahrenheit. A shortened 10 minute Ranger talk will be offered at the normal tour times. Visitors will have a brief period of access to the main part of the mill. For the latest weather information, call 401-725-8638. Spring 2026 Schedule (April 24, 2026 - May 16, 2026) Guided Tours are offered on Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 A.M., 12:30 P.M., 2:30 P.M. Summer 2026 Schedule (May 17, 2026 - October 31, 2026) Guided Tours are offered Thursdays - Sundays at 10:30 A.M., 12:30 P.M., 2:30 P.M. Fall 2026 Schedule (November 1, 2026 - November 28, 2026) Guided Tours are offered Fridays - Saturdays at 10:30 A.M., 12:30 P.M., 2:30 P.M. Check the Park's Calendar for the times of tours.