Pacific Islander Heritage

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM in front of the mill. Please arrive a few minutes early. Please Note: For visitor saftey, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or cancelled 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.

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. Location: 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI. Parking is available in a lot next to the historic Slater Mill. This program is part of our summer Walkabout series. Join rangers on Thursday evenings throughout June, July, and August to explore locations across the Blackstone River Watershed.

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM in front of the mill. Please arrive a few minutes early. Please Note: For visitor saftey, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or cancelled 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.

Join a Park Ranger for a walk along the historic Blackstone Canal. Walks last between 45 - 60 minutes. Rangers offer talks on the history of the Blackstone Canal, transportation, and industrial landscapes. Programs might also be on environmental topics such as geology, birding, wildlife, natural landscapes, and pollution. These programs are offered on Saturdays in the months of June, July, and August. Walks start in front of the Captain Wilbur Kelly House Transportation Museum at 10:00 A.M. In case of inclement weather, Towpath Talks will be held inside of the Kelly House Barn. The Barn is located about 100 yards down the walking trail past the Kelly House Museum of Transporation.

A free history expo showcasing 250 years of Rhode Island's heritage will kick off on August 29, 2026 at the Guy Lefebvre Community Center in Coventry, Rhode Island (1277 Main St., Coventry, RI). The event will feature several of the state's militia units, re-enactment groups, historians, history organizations, and groups from the state's historic sites. Lectures on topics of historical interest from authors and historians will take place throughout the day in the hall's lecture rooms. The expo will also feature games, lectures, and demonstrations from the state's many historical organizations. Join a Park Ranger at this event at 10:00 AM for a free lecture on veterans from the Blackstone Valley, with a focus on the varied uses of military records for historical research. Rangers will also bring a table with flyers and information for attendees. This event is free and open to the public.

The Beacon Pole Hill Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and North Smithfield Heritage Association are excited to announce the opening of the American Revolution Experience at Heritage Hall ( 101 Greene St., North Smithfield, R I) on September 3, 2026. The exhibit will open daily, from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M., through September 17, 2026, at Heritage Hall. There is no cost to visit the exhibit. Free parking is available onsite. The innovative pop-up exhibition includes display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology and unique artifacts and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation. During the exhibit, the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, in collaboration with the North Smithfield Heritage Association and DAR will offer additional programs and a walking tour. Join us for one of these special programs: Opening Ceremony - September 3, 2026 at 6:30 P.M. 9/11 Remembrance - September 11, 2026 at 12 P.M. (noon) Ranger-Led Walking Tour - September 12, 2026 at 10 A.M. Bell Ringing and Closing Ceremony - September 17, 2026 at 4:00 P.M.

Spend Labor Day Weekend at Old Slater Mill. This year's opening program is the performance, Soul Value, which will include a performance, ranger talk, and Q&A session with the artists. Soul Value is an inclusive historical storytelling experience that draws directly on bibliographies, written records, and court documents housed in colonial and state archives, transforming primary-source research into embodied performance narratives. By translating archival materials into monologue, dance, ritual, and song, Soul Value connects documented history to lived experience, making the past accessible and resonant for contemporary audiences. The work centers the impact of Black and Indigenous women in 18th-century New England—specifically Elleanor Eldridge, Elizabeth Freemen, and Margaret Kinnicutt—alongside the men of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, highlighting how Black residents of the region used both the law and creative strategies to demand recognition, autonomy, and equality. Their engagement with legal systems, contracts, petitions, and military service demonstrates how principles of independence and revolution were not abstract ideals but were actively tested and claimed by those excluded from full citizenship. By recognizing 1700s residents who made significant contributions to freedom, equality, and independence through their research into, and strategic use of, the law, Soul Value’s innovative performance celebrates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary era through rigorous historical research and creative interpretation that foreground New England’s role in shaping the ideals of freedom, equality, and independence. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Rhode Island Semiquincentennial Commission (RI250).

Songwriters at Slater Mill is an annual celebration held at Slater Mill National Historic Landmark over Labor Day Weekend. Now in its second year, Songwriters at Slater Mill continues a proud tradition of music, creativity, community, and environmental activism rooted in this historic place. Join us on Saturday, September 5, from 1-4 pm as we celebrate the legacy of musicians, artists, and advocates who have shared their voices here. Bring a chair or a blanket to enjoy this free celebration of music and community at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark. Artist Lineup: 1:00 PM: Benjamin Quinn https://www.benjaminquinnmusic.com/ 2:00 PM: Michella Saylors https://www.michellesaylorsmusic.com/ 3:00 PM: J. Michael Graham https://www.jmgrahammusic.com/ This program is presented in partnership with the City of Pawtucket.

During the American Revolution, Rhode Island Quakers' principle of non-violence was put to the test. The Religious Society of Friends was urged to take sides, but they mostly abstained from the war altogether. In 1777, a prominent Providence Quaker, Moses Brown, wrote to fellow Friends throughout RI about exemptions from service for pacifists. Brown believed that such an exemption came with a heightened sense of responsibility. In a quiet village of Woonsocket Crossroads, Friends of the Smithfield Monthly Meeting, who had gathered in prayer for over 70 years, recieved this message and contemplated how to best navigate the war. Some adhered strictly to their pacifist belief, remaining neutral and never picking up weapons. Others, including some men buried in the local Friends Cemetery, signed on to fulfill their patriotic military duty. For RI 250, the time to tell their stories - and the history of the Union Village community - is now. Bringing this story to film ensures that the legacy of Union Village Quakers lives on, and that their experience of war touches new generations. Union Village was directed by filmmaker Christian de Rezendes and written by historian Allison Horrocks, Christian de Rezendes and Richard Keene. This collaboration brings the Friends' significant history to life and highlights the wartime experiences of an often under-explored area of the state. Union Village will debut at 1:30 p.m., on Monday, September 7, 2026 (Labor Day) at the Museum of Work and Culture in Woonsocket. This will be followed by a panel discussion with the makers of the film. Reservations are required for this program. Please register at Labor Day Debut Screening of Union Village Tickets | Rhode Island Historical Society

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, the National Archives and National Park Service are collaborating on a special project to transcribe Revolutionary War Pension Files of more than 80,000 of America's first veterans and their widows, containing more than 2 million documents. These records may contain valuable details about Revolutionary War veterans and their families, such as rank, unit, period of service, age, residence, date and place of marriage, and date and place of death of spouse. You may find copies of marriage or other family records, information pertaining to military activities or details about soldiers' lives, along with letters, diaries, or family trees within these records. Become a citizen archivist and unlock the details and stories found within these rich records! Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and the North Smithfield Heritage Association are co-hosting a Revolutionary War Veteran’s Pension Transcription Program on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 6:30 P.M. at Heritage Hall (101 Greene Street, North Smithfield, RI) . Participants will learn about the value of wartime pensions and hear service stories about patriots from the Blackstone Valley. Rangers will provide training on how to access pensions and transcribe these vital records online. Are you ready to join us and contribute to the nation's 250th anniversary? These programs are free and open to all. Please bring a laptop.

Explore Slatersville Cemetery with a park ranger and learn the stories of local veterans who served their country. Presented in partnership with North Smithfield Heritage Association. Meet in front of Heritage Hall, located at 101 Green Street, Slatersville (North Smithfield), RI.

Join the 3-5-0 Girls for their second annual WWII in the Blackstone Valley program, a day dedicated to exploring the stories of military service, the home front, and the industries that helped secure victory during the Second World War. DIscover the vital role the Blackstone Valley played in the war effor through its factories, mills, and manufacturers, whose production supported Allied forces around the world. Meet living historians portraying both military personnel and civillians, including the factory workers, Red Cross volunteers, and everyday Americans whose contributions on the home front were essential to the war effort. Admission is free. Join us for a day of history, education and remembrance as we honor the many ways the people of the Blackstone Valley contributed to victory in WWII.