National Parks of Massachusetts

Travel Information

Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor

Central MA

Description:
Made up of 24 cities and towns on 454 square miles of land in the Blackstone River watershed, which extends from Worcester, Massachusetts south to Providence, Rhode Island. The 46-mile long Blackstone River, named an American Heritage River in 1998, is the focal point and main artery of the region.

Please select a destination point from the following list:



Blackstone River Valley Visitor Center (Pawtucket, RI)

175 Main Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860

Description:
Located across the street from historic Slater Mill, the Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Transit Directions: MBTA logo
Not applicable.

Driving Directions: car
From the North:
1. From I-95 southbound, take Exit #29.
2. Bear right onto Fountain Street.
3. Bear right again onto Exchange Street.
4. At the traffic light turn left onto Roosevelt Avenue. The Visitor Center is on the right at the end of the block.

From the South:
1. From I-95 northbound, take Exit #28.
2. Turn left onto School Street.
3. At the first traffic light, go straight through intersection and down the hill.
4. At the next traffic light, turn right onto Roosevelt Avenue. The Visitor Center parking lot is the first left.

From the East:
1. Take I-195 westbound, towards Providence, RI.
2. Merge onto I-95 North (“Boston”).
3. From I-95 northbound, take Exit #28.
4. Turn left onto School Street.
5. At the first traffic light, go straight through intersection and down the hill.
6. At the next traffic light, turn right onto Roosevelt Avenue. The Visitor Center parking lot is the first left.

Ranger Tips: park ranger hat 
You can view the award-winning film “Hidden in the Blackstone Valley.” This 20-minute feature tells the story of the rise and fall of the textile mill industry on the Blackstone River and the role it played in setting the American Industrial Revolution in motion.

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Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (Worcester, MA)

Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (Worcester, MA) 414 Massasoit Road
Worcester, MA 01604

Description:
Broad Meadow Brook is the largest urban wildlife sanctuary in New England. Visitor information for the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is also provided.

Transit Directions: MBTA logo
Not applicable.

Driving Directions: car
From the East or West:
1. From I-90 (Mass. Turnpike), take Exit #11 (“Millbury/Worcester”).
2. Turn left onto MA-122 North.
3. Turn left onto US-20 South/West.
4. At the traffic light, turn right onto Massasoit Road and continue to 414 Massasoit Road.

From the South (via I-495):
1. From I-495 northbound, take Exit #22 onto I-90 (Mass. Turnpike) West (“Springfield/Albany”).
2. From I-90, take Exit #11 (“Millbury/Worcester”).
3. Turn left onto MA-122 North.
4. Turn left onto US-20 South/West.
5. At the traffic light, turn right onto Massasoit Road and continue to 414 Massasoit Road.

From the North (via I-495 and I-290):
1. From I-495 southbound, take Exit #25B (“Worcester”) onto I-290 West.
2. From I-290, take Exit #14 (“MA-122 South/Grafton Street”).
3. Bear right at the rotary and stay on MA-122.
4. At the intersection, bear right onto Massasoit Road.
5. Follow Massasoit Road past a playground and park on the left. The sanctuary entrance is located on the right five houses past the park at 414 Massasoit Road.

Ranger Tips: park ranger hat 
There are more than 300 acres of woods, fields, streams, and marsh areas to explore. Trails are open every day, dawn to dusk. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm.

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Museum of Work and Culture (Woonsocket, RI)

Museum of Work and Culture (Woonsocket, RI) 42 South Main Street
Woonsocket, RI 02895

Description:
The Museum tells the story of the immigration and labor experience of the Blackstone River Valley, and provides visitor information for the entire region.

Transit Directions: MBTA logo
Not applicable.

Driving Directions: car
From Boston and Points North:
1. From I-95 southbound, take Exit #4 (“Woonsocket”) onto I-295 South and drive approx. 9 miles.
2. From I-295, take Exit #9B (“Route 146/Woonsocket”) and drive 0.5 miles.
3. Take the left exit onto RI-146/Eddie Dowling Highway (“Worcester”) and drive approx. 3.5 miles.
4. Turn right onto Providence Street and drive approx. 0.5 miles.
5. Turn right onto South Main Street. Follow signs to Visitor Center and Museum of Work & Culture in Market Square at 42 South Main Street. The museum is a 2-story brick building on the right side.

From Providence and Points South:
1. From either downtown Providence or off of I-95 North, take RI-146 North.
2. Take RI-146 North to RI-104.
3. Take the exit for RI-104 North (There are no exit numbers).
4. Continue straight at the intersection with RI-146A, and RI-104 becomes Providence Street.
5. Turn right onto South Main Street. Follow signs to Visitor Center and Museum of Work & Culture in Market Square at 42 South Main Street. The museum is a 2-story brick building on the right side.

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River Bend Farm (Uxbridge, MA)

River Bend Farm (Uxbridge, MA) 287 Oak Street
Uxbridge, MA 01569

Description:
River Bend Farm Visitor Center is located in a 1,000-acre state park along the Blackstone River Canal and towpath. The Visitor Center is part of the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, which offers walking and hiking paths, canoe access, and picnic and wildlife-watching areas. It is open year-round, seven days a week, during daylight hours.

Transit Directions: MBTA logo
Not applicable.

Driving Directions: car
Uxbridge is located in south-central Massachusetts.

From the North or South:
1. From MA-146, exit onto MA-16 East (approx. 13 miles south of I-90).
2. Take MA-16 eastbound to Uxbridge town center.
3. Turn left onto MA-122 North and drive approx. 1.5 miles.
4. At the traffic light, turn right onto East Hartford Avenue and drive approx. 0.5 miles.
5. Turn left onto Oak Street, and continue to 287 Oak Street.

From the East or West:
1. From I-90 (Mass. Turnpike), take Exit #11 onto MA-122 South/Providence Road and drive approx. 5 miles.
2. Bear left onto School Street and drive for approx. 1.5 miles.
3. Merge right onto Quaker Street and drive for approx. 2.3 miles.
4. Continue straight on Wolfe Hill Road, which becomes Upton Street.
5. At the traffic light, turn right onto East Hartford Avenue and drive approx. 0.5 miles.
6. Turn left onto Oak Street and continue to 287 Oak Street.

The Visitor Center is located in the large red barn at River Bend Farm.

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Worcester Historical Museum (Worcester, MA)

30 Elm Street
Worcester, MA 01609

Description:
The Worcester Historical Museum is a unique organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting Worcester's history in all time periods and subject areas.

Transit Directions: MBTA logo
Not applicable.

Driving Directions: car
From the East or West:
1. From I-90 (Mass. Turnpike, take Exit #10 (“I-290 East/Worcester”).
2. From I-290, take Exit #17.
3. Turn left on Belmont Street/MA-9, which becomes Highland Street.
4. At the fifth set of lights, turn left onto Lancaster Street.
5. At the third set of lights (on the corner of Linden and Pleasant Streets), turn left onto Pleasant Street.
6. At the end of the block, turn left onto Chestnut Street. The museum is the last building on the block on your left.

From the South (via I-395):
1. From I-395 northbound, cross I-90 (Mass. Turnpike) and continue on I-290 North.
2. From I-290, take Exit #17.
3. From this point, follow the directions from Exit #17 in “From the East or West,” above.

From the Southeast (via I-146):
1. Take MA-146 into Worcester and merge onto I-290 North.
2. From I-290, take Exit #17.
3. From this point, follow the directions from Exit #17 in “From the East or West,” above.


From the North:
1. From I-495 southbound, take Exit #25B (“Worcester”) onto I-290 West, or, from I-190, merger onto I-290 West.
2. From I-290, take Exit #18 (“Route 9/Highland Street").
3. At the end of the ramp, turn right and follow signs to MA-9 West.
4. At the second traffic light, turn right onto MA-9 West/Highland Street.
5. Follow Highland Street across Main Street and up the hill (Worcester Auditorium on right, Court House on left).
6. At the third traffic light, turn left onto Lancaster Street and stay in the left lane.
7. Follow Lancaster for 7 blocks, past where it becomes Linden Street. Linden's left lane becomes a turn only lane at Pleasant Street.
8. Turn left onto Pleasant Street and proceed one block to the traffic light.
9. Turn left onto Chestnut Street. 30 Elm Street is near the corner of Chestnut and Elm Streets, ahead on your left.


From the West (via MA-9):
1. Take MA-9/Main Street eastbound into Worcester.
2. At a fork in the road, bear right onto Main Street (leaving MA-9) and continue for 5 miles into downtown Worcester.
3. At the corner of Main and Austin Streets, turn left onto Austin Street.
4. Turn right onto Chatham Street and proceed up a hill.
5. Follow Chatham Street to a set of traffic lights at the corner of Pleasant and Chatham Streets.
6. Go straight through the set of traffic lights. The museum is the last building on the block on your left.

Limited free parking is available immediately behind the museum. Walk around to front entrance on Elm Street.

Ranger Tips: park ranger hat 
Get information about the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor while learning about the City of Worcester. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

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