Congress Designates Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
On this day in 1986, Congress designated the historic Blackstone River Valley a National Heritage Corridor. Running from Worcester to Providence, the Blackstone Valley lays claim to being the birthplace of the industrial revolution in America. It was here that the nation's first mechanized textile mill opened in 1790. Over the next 150 years, countless factories tapped the abundant water power available along the Blackstone's 46 miles. After years of economic and environmental exploitation, local citizens began working to clean up and restore the river's scenic and historic resources. Their efforts culminated in the creation of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, which now encompasses 25 communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
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