John H. Chafee
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor

The bikeway passes through numerous historic Mill Villages.

The American Industrial Revolution began in the Blackstone River Valley with the construction of Slater Mill in Pawtucket, RI. Samuel Slater changed the landscape of the Valley and transformed life in America. The United States Congress, recognizing the well-preserved and unique landscape of mill villages, early industrial artifacts and natural features, established the John H. Chafee Blackstone Heritage River Valley National Heritage Corridor in 1986 as a part of the National Park System.

A Commission, created at the same time, works in partnership with the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and 24 cities and towns to preserve and highlight the region's national significance. The Blackstone River winds for

The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (click on map for a larger image)

46 miles from Worcester, Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island, where it flows into Narragansett Bay. Between 1824 and 1828 the Blackstone Canal, which parallels the river, was built to provide transportation for the growing industrial base of the region. Railroads followed in the 1830s and 1840s.

Unlike a more traditional National Park, the Heritage Corridor does not own or manage any if the land within its boundaries. Instead, the Heritage Corridor Commission works in partnership with a variety of Federal, State and local agencies, along with many non-profit and private organizations to protect not only the sites and resources of the Blackstone Valley, but to maintain the spirit of innovation and ingenuity that makes this a special place.

For more information on the National Heritage Corridor, please visit www.nps.gov/blac.