Laborer and Worker

About Laborer and Worker

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  Fall Programs

  Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park

  Explore the Blackstone Valley on a ranger-led walk or program this fall. Programs listed here are free and open to all. No registration is required to attend. Fall 2025 Schedule September 13, 2025: Berkeley Walking Tour 30 Martin Street, Cumberland, RI 11:00 AM September 20, 2025: Whitinsville Walking Tour 17 Church Street, Whitinsville, MA 11:00 AM September 27, 2025: Slatersville Walking Tour 101 Greene Street, North Smithfield, RI 11:00 AM October 4, 2025: Blackstone River State Park Archaeology Tour 1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI 11:00 AM October 11, 2025: I Dig Slater Mill Open House for Archaeology Month 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Patwtucket, RI 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Drop in anytime for free activities October 17, 2025: Of Factories and Fiction: Gothic Tales at Slater Mill 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 6:30 PM To learn more click here October 18, 2025: Webster Walking Tour 2 Lake Street, Webster, MA 10:00 AM October 25, 2025: Hopedale Walking Tour 43 Hope Street, Hopedale, MA 11:00 AM October 11, October 18, October 25, & November 1, 2025: Jenks Walks 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI All walks begin at 11:30 AM Presented by Old Slater Mill Association - meet at Slater Mill

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  Take a Self-Guided Tour of the Cabin District

  Valles Caldera National Preserve

  The Cabin District stands as a reminder of the ranching legacy at Valles Caldera. This self-guided audio tour walks through a day in the life of a ranch worker, stopping by each historic structure and explaining its significance to the ranching operation that persisted here for nearly 100 years. Download the NPS smartphone app for free at The NPS App - Digital (U.S. National Park Service) . Tour takes about 30 minutes to complete.

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  Visit the Friends of Pullman National Historical Park Pullman Exhibit Hall

  Pullman National Historical Park

  Visit the Friends of Pullman National Historical Park Pullman Exhibit Hall Visit the Friends of Pullman National Historical Park Exhibit Hall located at Cottage Grove and 112th Street. Volunteers and partners from the Friends of Pullman National Historical Park are on-hand to answer questions and provide suggestions on how to enjoy your visit to the park. There are informational displays, artifacts and an introductory film available. Visit the Friends of Pullman National Historical Park website for details on hours of operation and associated fees.

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  Ranger Walkabouts

  Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park

  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 wal…

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  Hike the Big Fill Loop Trail

  Golden Spike National Historical Park

  *See-Audio Tour in the "Self-Guided Tours" green tile on the main page* The Big Fill Loop Trail is a one mile and a half round-trip walking trail. Visitors walk on original Central Pacific grade and return on the Union Pacific grade. The trail showcases the Central Pacific's Big Fill and the abutments that once supported the Union Pacific's Big Trestle. Walk through cuts, over fills, and see drill marks where workers blasted rock away. Keep in mind, all of this was accomplished by simple tools, sweat, and an amazing amount of endurance. Things you should know before you go... The Big Fill Trail follows the old railroad paths where tracks once ran. You’ll start on the Central Pacific route and return on the Union Pacific route. The trail is a 1.5-mile loop and usually takes 1–1.5 hours to walk. Bring plenty of water. Summer temperatures often reach the 90s and can go over 100°F. There is no shade, so wear sunscreen and weather-appropriate clothing. Watch your footing because the trail can be uneven. Stay on the marked trail to protect plants, wildlife, and historic areas. Do not disturb wildlife. If bad weather approaches, return to your vehicle or find shelter right away. Do not remove anything from the park. Leave artifacts and interesting items where they are, and report damage or important finds to a ranger. An Epic Story The Big Fill Trail shows the incredible hard work and engineering skills of the railroad workers who built it. The land here was extremely rough, making this one of the hardest sections both the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads had to construct. As you walk the trail, remember that everything was built completely by hand. The 1–1.5 hour walk you take today took workers about three months to build. The trail is only a small part of the larger story of the transcontinental railroad, which stretched 1,776 miles from Omaha, Nebraska, to Sacramento, California. It remains one of the greatest engineering achievements in American history. (The numbers below correspond with points of interest markers along the trail. Companion booklets are available for purchase in the park store, located in our Visitor Center.) 1. Steep Grade and the Orange Special Legend Directly across from where you step onto the railroad grade is a plaque referencing the so-called “Orange Special” wreck. While no direct historical evidence confirms that this wrec…

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