Skip to main content
DESTINATION

Pawtucket

With its abundant water power and timber for fuel, Pawtucket soon enticed blacksmiths to set up shop. Despite a setback in 1676 when the town virtually was destroyed in King Philip's War, Pawtucket grew quickly as an innovative manufacturing center, emerging as the birthplace of America's Industrial Revolution. In 1793 Samuel Slater started North America's first successful cotton-manufacturing mill, which was operated by water power.

Pawtucket is part of the Blackstone River Valley, through which the Blackstone River flows for 48 miles. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1986 as a national historic region, the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor helps preserve the history of the American Industrial Revolution. The area spans nine Rhode Island towns and covers 250,000 acres from Worcester, Mass., to Providence.

A popular recreation area is Slater Memorial Park on Newport Avenue (US 1A). The park offers recreational facilities and attractions, including an 1894 Looff carousel and gardens.

The Pawtucket Red Sox, the AAA International Baseball League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, play at McCoy Stadium; phone (401) 724-7300 for Pawtucket Red Sox information.

Visitor Centers

Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and Visitor Center 175 Main St. Pawtucket, RI 02860. Phone:(401)724-2200

Self-guiding Tours

Maps and brochures for walking, bicycling, fall foliage, canoe and driving tours are available at the visitor center.

Things to Do

Rhode Island Watercolor Society

Slater Mill Historic Site

More Articles

THE VALUE OF TRIP CANVAS

Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas

Get Ideas from the Pros

As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.

Build and Research Your Options

Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.

Book Everything in One Place

From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!

BACK TO TOP