Who was Paul Tsongas?

"One of his enduring legacies is the Lowell National Historical Park . . . Where others saw a fading mill town, Paul saw the opportunity for rebirth, growth, and a thriving new economy . . . He had both a realistic and an idealistic vision of a better future, and a powerful commitment to help everyone reach it, so that no one would be left out or left behind." - Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the death of Senator Paul E. Tsongas, 1997

The Paul E. Tsongas Industrial History Center is named for former Senator Tsongas, not only because he filed the legislation to create Lowell National Historical Park, and also because he urged the development of University-Park Service educational partnerships to use Lowell as a classroom. Senator Tsongas believed that stronger schools were an essential ingredient in the revitalization of economic and community life in Lowell and in the region, but that strong schools resulted from strong community partnerships. Inspired by his vision of Lowell as an historical classroom, not only for Lowell students, but for all students, Superintendent of Lowell National Historical Park Chrysandra Walter and UMass Lowell Chancellor William Hogan assembled a team and sought initial funding to create a hands-on education center that opened in the Fall of 1991. The Center was later named to honor the Senator's many contributions to Lowell as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1975-1979), United States Senator (1979-1985), UMass Lowell trustee, Lowell City Counselor, and County Commissioner.