EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | 5

Project Overview

With the passage of Title VII of Public Law 109-338 

(October 12, 2006), the John H. Chafee Blackstone River 

Valley National Heritage Corridor Reauthorization Act of 

2006, Congress directed the Secretary of the Interior to 

conduct a Special Resource Study (SRS) of sites and associated landscape features within the boundaries of the 

John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage 

Corridor (“Corridor”) that contribute to the understanding 

of the Corridor as the birthplace of the industrial revolution 

in the United States. The primary purpose of the SRS is to 

determine whether the resources being evaluated meet the 

criteria for inclusion as a unit or units of the National Park 

System.

This legislation also extended the Corridor Commission 

(“Commission”) an additional fi ve years until 2011 and 

authorized development funds through 2016. By 2011, the 

Commission will have been in operation for 25 years. The 

SRS is being undertaken concurrently with an update to the 

Corridor’s 1998 management plan, which is also required 

under this public law.

The study area encompassed the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor established by Congress in 

November 1986 for the purpose of “preserving and interpreting for educational and inspirational benefi t of present 

and future generations the unique and signifi cant contributions to our national heritage of certain historic and cultural 

lands, waterways and structures within the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.”1

 In November 1999, Congress 

renamed the Corridor the John H. Chafee Blackstone River 

Valley National Heritage Corridor in honor of the late senator who championed it.2

 The Corridor encompasses all or 

part of 24 communities from Worcester, MA to Providence, 

RI.

The Corridor’s establishing legislation authorized the 

creation of an operating commission for an initial fi ve years 

and provided for a possible fi ve-year extension, which the 

Commission was granted. In 1996, Congress extended the 

Commission for ten more years, followed in 2006 with a 

1 Public Law 99-647 An Act to Establish the Blackstone River Valley National 

Heritage Corridor in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

2 P.L. 106-113, Approved Nov. 29, 1999, (113 Stat. 1501).

fi nal fi ve-year extension requiring that the Commission 

cease operation in October 2011. The Commission would 

be responsible for the preparation and implementation of 

a management plan for the Corridor. Major management 

plans were completed for the Corridor in 1989 and 1998.

The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National 

Heritage Corridor has served as a catalyst for regional initiatives since its creation in 1986. As a result, the Blackstone River Valley has developed a large regional constituency drawing from environmental, cultural, recreational, 

and economic interests. A number of bi-state, Valley-wide 

initiatives are currently underway to protect and preserve 

the resources associated with the Blackstone River Valley 

and to improve recreational access and opportunities.

The study team acknowledged the desires of the Commission and the public that the long history of federal activity and investment in the Blackstone River Valley region 

be recognized in the study process. The following elements 

were identifi ed to ensure that these previous efforts were 

given adequate consideration:

• Preserve, protect and interpret resources throughout 

the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley 

National Heritage Corridor that exemplify the 

Valley’s nationally signifi cant industrial heritage for 

the benefi t and inspiration of future generations.

• Support the preservation, protection, and 

interpretation of the region’s landscape features – 

both urban and rural, including the Blackstone River 

and Canal – that provide an overarching context for 

the Valley’s industrial heritage.

• Educate the public about the industrial history of the 

Valley and its signifi cance to our nation’s past and 

present.

• Protect the substantial federal investment that has 

been committed to key resources and facilities 

Valley-wide.

• Support and enhance the network of partners 

who will continue to engage in the protection, 

improvement, management, and operation of key 

resources and facilities throughout the Valley.
6 | BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY

Criteria for New Parklands

By law (Public Law 91-383 §8 as amended by §303 of 

Public Law 105-391, The National Parks Omnibus Management Act (Public Law 105-391)) and NPS policy, potential new units of the National Park System must 1) 

possess nationally signifi cant resources, 2) be a suitable

addition to the system, 3) be a feasible addition to the system, and 4) require direct NPS management or administration instead of alternative protection by other agencies 

or the private sector.

An area or resource may be considered nationally signifi cant if it:

• is an outstanding example of a particular type of 

resource;

• possesses exceptional value or quality in illustrating 

or interpreting the natural or cultural themes of our 

nation’s heritage;

• offers superlative opportunities for public enjoyment 

or for scientifi c study; and

• retains a high degree of integrity as a true, accurate, 

and relatively unspoiled example of a resource.

National signifi cance for cultural resources, such as 

those comprising the Blackstone River Valley, is determined by applying the National Historic Landmarks criteria contained in the Code of Federal Regulations at 36 

CFR Part 65.

An area may be considered suitable for potential addition to the National Park System if it represents a natural or 

cultural resource type that is not already adequately represented in the system, or is not comparably represented and 

protected for public enjoyment by other federal agencies; 

tribal, state, or local governments; or the private sector. 

The suitability evaluation, therefore, is not limited solely 

to units of the National Park System, but includes evaluation of all comparable resource types protected by others.

To be feasible as a new unit of the National Park System, 

an area must be of suffi cient size and appropriate confi guration to ensure sustainable resource protection and visitor 

enjoyment (taking into account current and potential impacts from sources beyond its boundaries) and be capable 

of effi cient administration by the NPS at a reasonable cost.

There are many excellent examples of the successful 

management of important natural and cultural resources by 

other public agencies, private conservation organizations, 

and individuals. Most notably, state park systems provide 

for protection of natural and cultural resources throughout 

the nation and offer outstanding recreational experiences. 

The NPS applauds these accomplishments and actively encourages the expansion of conservation activities by state, 

local, and private entities, and by other federal agencies. 

Unless direct NPS management of a studied area is identifi ed as the clearly superior alternative, the NPS will recommend that one or more of these other entities assume a lead 

management role and that the area not be considered as a 

potential unit of the National Park System.

Applying the Criteria – Findings

Based on extensive analysis and with the concurrence 

of the National Park Service’s History Program Offi ce in 

Washington, the study team concluded that the Blackstone 

River Valley’s industrial heritage resources including the 

Blackstone River, the Blackstone Canal, Old Slater Mill 

National Historic Landmark District, and the villages of 

Slatersville, Ashton, Whitinsville, and Hopedale met the 

criteria for national signifi cance.

The region, with its representative resources, remains 

the best place to interpret the origin and rise of an important type of American industry. These resources form 

a cohesive industrial district that evolved and defi ned the 

principles of the Rhode Island System of manufacture, 

which became a paradigm for further American industrial 

development. As the nation’s fi rst heavily industrialized region, the valley became the prototype for a sweeping social 

transformation that included a fundamental shift in the nature of work. The multiplicity of resource types found in 

the Blackstone Valley refl ects the many dimensions of the 

sweeping social and economic transformation that came in 

the wake of American industrialization and makes it possible to compellingly depict the lives of the working men 

and women who participated in this massive change.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | 7

No single, uniform process transformed the nation into 

a major industrial power; the course of industrialization 

varied by region, time period, and industry. Several distinct 

pathways to industrialization have been identifi ed and, as a 

result, no one site can convey the full extent and complexity of American industrialization. The suitability analysis 

considered comparable resources representing various 

models of industrialization throughout the United States. 

These other places were more likely to complement, rather 

than compete with, the Blackstone River Valley in their capacity to convey the complex story of the nation’s industrial development. Based on this analysis the study concludes 

that the resources of the Blackstone River Valley depict a 

distinctive and important aspect of American history that is 

not adequately represented elsewhere and is therefore suitable for inclusion in the National Park System.

The feasibility analysis indicated that the size and confi guration of the non-contiguous sites and districts that 

would compose the proposed park would not be a prohibiting factor for management and is mitigated by existing 

roads and visitor infrastructure (e.g., visitor facilities, directional signage, and interpretive media). The area enjoys 

good highway access and is served by two international 

airports as well as intercity train and bus service. Visitor 

access has been facilitated by existing directional signage 

systems, published tour guides, and maps. Much of the primary resource base continues to be under private ownership 

and that is unlikely to change. Strategic NPS acquisition of 

key properties (in full or partial fee) for preservation or 

public access purposes would be one facet of the proposed 

park’s resource management strategy. Partnerships with 

local communities and property owners to encourage resource protection would also be critical.

Finally, the study concludes that given the appropriate 

authorities, fi nancial and human resources, the resources 

under consideration would be best managed with the longterm involvement of the National Park Service.

In summary, the study team fi nds that, based on the factors cited above and the extensive analyses conducted during the course of this special resource study, the resources 

associated with the Blackstone River Valley are nationally 

signifi cant and both suitable and feasible for inclusion in 

the National Park System. It further concludes that there 

is a demonstrated need for NPS management of these resources in partnership with others described in this report.

Management Options

The study team has identifi ed a range of management 

options describing different ways that the resources identifi ed in the Blackstone River Valley could be protected and 

interpreted for the benefi t of the public.

Management Option 1. 

John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley 

National Heritage Corridor Continues to 

Operate under Current Authorities

Under this management option, no new unit of the National Park System would be proposed. The John H. Chafee 

Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (“Corridor”) would continue to be recognized as a federally 

designated national heritage corridor. In compliance with 

Public Law 109-338, the John H. Chafee Blackstone River 

Valley National Heritage Corridor Reauthorization Act of 

2006, the Corridor Commission (“Commission”) would 

continue to operate under its present authorities and receive 

operating funds from the National Park Service through 

October 2011. The Corridor is authorized to receive development funds through 2016. In the absence of the Commission, there would be no dedicated federal operational 

funding and no federal staff to operate the Corridor.

Commission staff would continue to provide planning 

support and technical assistance to state and local partners, 

and uniformed National Park Service rangers would continue to be available for visitor programming and public 

outreach as long as the Commission remains in operation. 

In the absence of the Commission, a cadre of volunteers 

and docents in combination with the staff of key institutions like the state parks, the Museum of Work and Culture, and Old Slater Mill would continue to offer the same 

visitor programs and exhibits they do now. Existing visitor 

facilities would be maintained and made available to the 

public by their respective owner/operators.
8 | BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY

The Commission is currently in the process of developing a strategic plan to address the transition from a commission to a non-federal operating body. This process is 

being undertaken independent of, but in coordination with, 

the Special Resource Study.

Management Option 2: 

Old Slater Mill National Historic Site

This management option proposes that the Old Slater 

Mill National Historic Landmark District be considered 

as a potential unit of the National Park System that would 

be jointly operated, preserved, and maintained by the Old 

Slater Mill Association (OSMA) and the National Park 

Service. The site would continue to be owned by OSMA, 

though the National Park Service would acquire a preservation easement on the property to ensure its preservation for 

future generations. The National Park Service would enter 

into a cooperative agreement with OSMA that would defi ne the roles and responsibilities of each party in the operation and management of the site. The proposed boundary 

would coincide with the boundary of the National Historic 

Landmark District as depicted in Figure 2 in Chapter Two: 

Historical Overview and Resource Description.

In order to convey the full infl uence of Old Slater Mill 

on the early development of the American textile industry, 

NPS would be authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with private and public entities to engage in the interpretation of Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark 

District and the Rhode Island System of manufacture as it 

existed in the Blackstone River Valley.

Management Option 3. 

Blackstone River Valley Industrial Heritage 

National Historical Park

This management option envisions that a new unit of 

the National Park System would be created by an act of 

Congress. The new unit would include specifi c nationally 

signifi cant sites and districts located within the Blackstone 

River Valley that possess high resource integrity and effectively convey the industrial heritage themes of the valley. 

The park would engage in visitor programs and resource 

protection primarily for the sites and districts that would be 

named in potential legislation establishing the park including:

• Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark District, 

Pawtucket, RI

• Slatersville Historic District, North Smithfi eld, RI

• Ashton Historic District, Cumberland, RI

• Whitinsville Historic District, Northbridge, MA

• Hopedale Village Historic District, Hopedale, MA

• Blackstone River and its tributaries

• Blackstone Canal

The non-contiguous historic districts named above 

and as depicted on maps found in Chapter Two: Historical Overview and Resource Description would form the 

boundary of the proposed park unit.

These areas of national signifi cance and NPS interest 

are where potential acquisition could occur in full or partial-fee. Properties in which NPS acquires a partial interest 

(e.g., a preservation easement) could also be cooperatively 

managed if appropriate. The following properties are possible candidates for full or partial-fee acquisition by NPS:

• Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark District, 

Pawtucket, RI

• Blackstone River State Park, Kelly House/ Old 

Ashton segment, Lincoln, RI (adjoins Ashton 

Village Historic District in Cumberland, RI)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | 9

• Centennial Memorial Park, Slatersville, North 

Smithfi eld, RI

• The Parklands, Hopedale, MA

• Castle Hill Farm, Whitinsville, Northbridge, MA

The NPS may also seek to acquire and develop other locations in the village historic districts for interpretive purposes (e.g., a residence could be acquired and developed 

to interpret a mill worker’s daily life). The NPS may also 

acquire properties along the Blackstone River and Canal 

that are historically signifi cant or that provide for continuous linkage, supporting public access, and resource protection. A General Management Plan would be developed for 

the park that identifi es priorities for acquisition (full fee or 

partial fee), and protection and public use of the resources. 

Any NPS acquisition would occur on a willing-seller basis, 

and properties currently in public ownership could be acquired only by donation.

In addition to land acquisition authority, within the 

park’s authorized boundaries NPS would have the authority to enter into cooperative agreements to provide assistance for resource protection and interpretation. The park 

would also be authorized to provide interpretive assistance 

to thematically-related resources located throughout the 

Corridor.

The National Historical Park would be operated by the 

National Park Service in cooperation with a regional partner that could be specifi cally identifi ed in the park’s enabling legislation and with other local management partners, as appropriate. The NPS would be authorized to enter 

into a cooperative agreement with the regional partner to 

undertake activities that support the purposes of the park. 

The regional partner would assume a lead role in preserving, protecting, and interpreting related industrial heritage 

resources throughout the Corridor that fall outside of the 

park’s boundary, as well as the region’s larger rural and 

agricultural landscape. The regional partner is likely to be 

Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc. 

(“Blackstone Corridor, Inc.), a newly formed 501(c)3 nonprofi t organization that will assume responsibility for the 

Corridor after the Commission expires in October 2011.

Environmentally Preferred 

Alternative

The NPS is required to identify the environmentally preferred alternative in its NEPA documents for public review 

and comment. The Environmentally Preferred Alternative 

is the one identifi ed which best protects, preserves, and enhances historic, cultural, and natural resources.

Management Option 3: Blackstone River Valley Industrial Heritage National Historical Park would be considered 

the Environmentally Preferred Alternative for the following reasons:

• This management option best supports the project 

goals articulated in Chapter One of the study. These 

goals call for a regional approach to protecting 

and interpreting industrial heritage resources, thus 

addressing the protection of the natural, cultural, 

recreational, and scenic values that provide its 

context and the connections among non-contiguous 

resources.

• Through the proposed relationship with a regional 

partner that would be tasked with working beyond 

the park boundary, this management option offers 

the greatest opportunity for NPS to support both

interpretive and protection efforts throughout 

the Blackstone Valley; and could bring about a 

greater level of resource protection; and could 

foster a greater level of public understanding 

and appreciation of these resources than either 

Management Options 1 or 2.
10 | BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY

Public Comments

This report is available for public review for a period of 

30 days. During this review period, the National Park Service is accepting comments from interested parties electronically, at public meetings, and by post. At the end of 

the public comment period, the National Park Service will 

review all comments and determine whether any changes 

would be made to the report. Following the public comment period, the report will be transmitted to the Secretary 

of the Interior who, in turn, will transmit the report to the 

United States Congress.

Comments may be made electronically through the NPS 

Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at: 

 http://parkplanning.nps.gov.

Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to:

 Ellen_carlson@nps.gov.

Or by mail to:

 Ellen Carlson

National Park Service

Northeast Region, Boston Offi ce

15 State Street

Boston, MA 02109