The first floor of the mill was originally David Wilkinson's machine shop, and the upper floors housed spinning frames. Today, the first floor contains a collection of early machines such as lathes, wheels, and planes. They are powered by a system of shafts, wheels, and leather belts, which are powered by water. The huge breast wheel was installed in October 1980 after extensive archaeological research and excavation in the old wheel pit during the 1970s. The raceway was completed in 1982, and in 1983 the machine shop began operating by water power.
Future plans call for the installation of a steam power system as well.
The second floor has a gallery where exhibits of historic and contemporary fiber arts may be seen. Sylvanus Brown later became part owner of the house. It is he, along with David Wilkinson and several other local skilled mechanics, who worked on Moses Brown's collection of spinning frames under Samuel Slater's direction, to produce the first successful spinning factory in America. The house was moved to its present site on the campus of the Old Slater Mill Historic Site in the 1960s, and was restored and furnished according to documentary evidence found in probate cases. This is only one of three pre-Revolutionary War dwellings still standing in Pawtucket.