08/31/2023
By Ellen Anstey

“One City, Many Cultures” is a new exhibit at Lowell National Historical Park at the Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center, 40 French St., Lowell.

All are invited to the grand opening celebration!

Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023
Boarding House Park
Opening Ceremony: 11 a.m.
Celebration: Noon to 4 p.m.
The celebration will feature activities, crafts, performances and music at Boarding House Park.

“One City, Many Cultures” is an immersive and interactive introduction to Lowell as a vibrant, multi-cultural city. Lowell is an ideal location for exploring cultural expression because it has always been, and continues to be, a gateway city for immigrants and refugees. The exhibit is presented in sights, sounds, touches, and even smells, and in some of the many languages spoken in the greater Lowell area, including English, Spanish, and Khmer. It also encourages people to share their thoughts and experiences with others and within the exhibit.

Community members co-created “One City, Many Cultures” with the National Park Service. Over the past five years, 30 people participated in ongoing conversations about their own lived experiences to drive the content and design of the exhibit. More than 100 individuals contributed their stories, objects, photographs, and other material to help convey the many cultures of the city in their own words and in their own ways.

UMass Lowell faculty and staff contributed to the content of this new exhibit including History Professor Robert Forrant, FAHSS Associate Dean Sue Kim, and former Disability Services Director Jody Goldstein. The Center for Lowell History staff contributed photos and content. Staff members of the Tsongas Industrial History Center staff team including Sheila Kirschbaum, Oren BendavidVal, Kristin Gallas, Ellen Anstey from UMass Lowell contributed content and are assisting with opening day festivities along with our TIHC National Park Service colleagues Jamie Smith, MaryBeth Faucher, Frank Clark, William Morton, and Warren Rudkin. The Tsongas Industrial History Center will also be planning for upcoming school field trips to use this new exhibit.

For more information visit the Lowell National Park website and the event on Facebook.