- Field Trips
- Virtual Field Trips
- In-School Programs
- Extended-Day Workshops
- Materials for Rent/Purchase (and other online resources)
- Plan Your Visit
- Financial Aid
The Tsongas Industrial History Center supports and encourages the teaching of industrial history using site-based, hands-on experiences for over 40,000 students in grades 3 through 12 annually. All programs are aligned with Massachusetts and New Hampshire State Curriculum Frameworks.
Our location within Lowell National Historical Park allows students to explore historic cotton mills, 5.6 miles of canals, gatehouses, and worker housing. We use these resources to engage students in such topics as labor history, immigration, economics, textile production, globalization, technology/engineering, and impacts of industrialization on nature and society.
Financial Aid financialaid
Financial aid for field trips is available.
Fourth-grade teachers at Title I schools are invited to book field trips at no cost, thanks to funding from the National Park Foundation. Grants cover the $225 program fee ($125 virtual program) AND reimbursement for up to $200 per program for bus costs is available. Mention "Open Outdoors for Kids Grant" when you call to reserve programs.
Fifth-grade and high school classes can also reserve free Workers on the Line programs through support from the Massachusetts AFL-CIO Union and its locals. Mention "AFL-CIO Union funding" when you call to reserve programs.
These opportunities are available on a first-come, first-served basis for the 2023-2024 school year.
The Tsongas Industrial History Center also recommends applying for funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council's Local Cultural Council Grants.
Teachers we know have also had success applying for field trip money from Target Field Trip Grants.
Grade Chart
| In-Person Programs and Virtual Field Trips | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 | HS | History & Social Studies | Civics | Science & Engineering |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bale to Bolt | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| Change In The Making | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Community Connections | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||
| Engineer It! | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Exploring The Immigrant Experience | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||
| Farm to Factory | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Power to Production | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| River as a Classroom | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Workers on the Line | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Yankees and Immigrants | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Change Over Time: Through Children’s Eyes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||
| Citizens Respond to an Industrial Crisis | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||
| Engineering a Better Future | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Human Impact on the Living Planet | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Mill Girls: Life and Work in an Industrial City | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Immigration, Culture, and Community | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Same, Only Different | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||
| Waterpower: Powering a Revolution | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
