| Named 2009 Editors' Choice for "Best History Escape" | | | | 1970s to the current historic site as part of the |
| in Rhode Island by Yankee Magazine, Slater Mill of | | | | museum complex. Here, one can witness firsthand |
| Pawtucket looms prominently in the horizons of native | | | | how spinning, weaving, cooking and quilting ruled the |
| Rhode Islanders and out-of-towners who seek a | | | | day. |
| journey weaving through America's Industrial | | | | A National Historic Landmark Site, Slater Mill is |
| Revolution. Tour guides in period costume spin local | | | | accredited by the American Association of Museums, |
| history threaded with innovation, labor -- many workers | | | | where at least 30,000 visitors per year, hailing from |
| were children, women's rights, cotton economy, | | | | every state and over 150 countries have walked the |
| immigration, and assimilation. In 1793, Samuel Slater | | | | beat along the scarred and pockmarked flooring of the |
| founded Slater Mill, built along the Blackstone River, | | | | mill. As if the exhibits, artifact collections, grounds, |
| primarily owned by the prominent Brown family. Water | | | | gallery, concerts, demonstrations, fine crafts and |
| power generated from the falls converted raw cotton | | | | artwork aren't enough-there is the unexplained |
| into cloth. | | | | paranormal phenomena as well. The staff at Slater Mill |
| The first commercially successful cotton-spinning mill, | | | | now conducts special "ghost tours" at $20 per person, |
| still standing in America, had been augmented with | | | | ending in the same location where an episode of |
| several additions between 1801 - 1834 and 1869 - 1872. | | | | Ghost Hunters was filmed (Sept. - Oct. on Fridays & |
| The site was used as a spinning mill until 1895, and | | | | Saturdays, 6:30 - 8:30 PM; call 401-725-8638 to make |
| other industrial purposes until 1923. Efforts to restore | | | | a reservation; groups of ten or more may book a |
| Slater Mill into a museum resulted in a structure | | | | private tour throughout the year). Keep in mind, though |
| restored to its 1835 appearance, which opened in 1955. | | | | no one has actually seen a ghost, members of The |
| Restoration of the nearby Wilkinson Mill (1810 - 1811) | | | | Atlantic Paranormal Society stated, and many have |
| was completed in 1973. Tourists can feel the vibrations | | | | corroborated, there's a feeling of a "presence" while |
| of the 16,000-pound mill wheel, a replica of the original | | | | walking amidst the old looms and spinning machinery, |
| that once harnessed the power of the Blackstone to | | | | and a "tense" and "heavy vibe" given off to those who |
| make tools. The Sylvanus Brown House, built in 1758, | | | | enter the machine shop in the Wilkinson Mill. |
| was moved through the streets of Pawtucket in the | | | | |