Technology has always played an important role in the story of Lowell and the Industrial Revolution. One of the major technological needs was to get energy from the river to the mills in order to power all the machines. Throughout the city’s textile-production history, engineers invented and innovated ways to make the water-power system and textile machines run more efficiently and productively.
Lowell: The Continuing Revolution
Watch this short introductory film for an overview of the story of Lowell – the technology, the people, and the community. [This link goes to Lowell National Historical Park’s website.]
We have created two activities for use with the film.
Writing Prompt Activity: Newspaper Writing
Writing Prompt Activity: Immigration
How a Loom Works
Nineteenth-century textile mills were filled with many noisy, large, and powerful machines. Looms are mechanical wonders that turn delicate yarns into yards and yards of cloth. [This link goes to TIHC’s YouTube page.]
Design a Safer Loom: An Engineering Activity
Year after year, engineers continued to redesign the loom so that it would work faster and more efficient. Apply the engineering design process to design modern solutions to the safety problems of a historic power loom.
Controlling Water
Lowell’s large canal system fed water from the Merrimack River to turbines in the basements of the mills. The canal system is dotted with several small buildings called gatehouses. These buildings contain gates, big wooden “windows,” that can be raised or lowered to control the amount of water into each canal. [These links go to Lowell National Historical Park’s website.]
The Merrimack River and Canal System
Lowell’s canal system is considered an engineering marvel. The canals channel the Merrimack River’s potential energy, bringing water to mills where turbines transform the water into kinetic energy. [These links go to Lowell National Historical Park’s website and other resources on our TIHC pages.]
- The Merrimack River
- Lowell's Canal System
- Water Power
- Maps of Lowell's Canal System in 1823, 1828, 1836, and 1848 (links to a diagram on the Library of Congress website.)
- Maps of Lowell National Historical Park showing the full canal system, water levels, public art, and more.
Suffolk Mills Turbine Exhibit
The Suffolk Mills Turbine Exhibit tells the story of how water provided power for the mills. It also highlights the changes in waterpower technology and the important work of Lowell’s nationally renowned engineers, whose turbine designs are still used today.