Park Legacies & Community Values

Lowell National Historical Park2011 Annual Report

Lowell

Youth Pathways to LearningNumerousbuses arriveeach schoolday on FrenchStreet,students andteachersstream ontothe curb and

head into the mill to become scholarlydetectives and explore issues related toimmigration, environmental history,innovation, globalization and labor history.The Tsongas Industrial History Center willreceive its one millionth program participantduring the Center’s 20th anniversary this year.

Lowell National Historical Park hasdeveloped vast and innovative programs foryouth to connect to the outdoors andexplore aspects of American history. Over 80youth were employed by the park and itspartners this past summer. During a visit toLowell this year, NPS Deputy DirectorMickey Fearn observed the Park’s pathwaysfor youth engagement and heard from manystudents who discussed theirparticipation

in the Student Career Intake Programthat lead to careers in conservation; theSpindle City Corpsthat provides summeremployment and leadership skills to youthages 16-25; the Youth Theater Programthatengages young people in living history; and aPreservation Trade Skills Programwith theGreater Lowell Vocational and TechnicalHigh School that provides opportunities forstudents to hone preservation skills onhistoric properties.

Going to School in a National ParkAs UMASS Lowell has increased itsdowntown presence, the Park and TsongasIndustrial History Center have committed toorienting incoming freshman into their newenvironment—a national park. Nearly 2,000students explored downtown Lowell as anew component on their jam-packedorientation agenda.

Eleven UMass Lowell professorsincorporated the Tsongas Industrial HistoryCenter and Park into their syllabi for a new“Lowell as Text” course and for the HonorsSeminar course, which also used a “city astext” theme incorporating the BoottMuseum, Mill Girls and Immigrants Exhibit,Tsongas Center work- shops, and theConcord River Greenway with TsongasCenter and Park staff.

Farewells and Congrats! A salute to those who have moved on...

Patricia Jones to Independence National Historical Park

Donna Richardson to Grand Canyon National Park

JR Roberts to John F. Kennedy BirthplaceNational Historic Site

Maryann Zujewski to Salem MaritimeNational Historic Site

And...we bid all the best in retirement to:Cathy Burkhart, Ted Fowler, Lee Hammond,Danny Hyde, Dave Redding, and Rick Smith

The theme of this year’s Annual Report, “Stewards of Heritage” supports the belief that

the city of Lowell and the Lowell National Historical Park share a vision of evolving as

thoughtful stewards of our natural and built environment. The national park presence in

this city is a testament to the conviction that the people of Lowell, and this nation, have in

preserving a culturally rich community with a powerful story to tell. It is our hope that the

issues of the past—immigration and race, business and labor, the environment, innovation—

will act as a platform for inspiration and civic dialogue in confronting similar issues today.

The City of Lowell has developed a culture of collaboration. When it comes to problem

solving within our community, we must continue to think and act in new ways. As in the

past, it will require that government bodies, educational institutions, businesses, and

non-profit organizations work differently—and together.

Michael Creasey, Superintendent

Stewards of Heritage

Preservation

Some 30 years ago the City had over 5million square feet of vacant mills. With therecent opening of the Appleton Mill, therehabilitation rate for historic mills inLowell is over 80%. This phenomenalsuccess has been accomplished throughgood urban planning, financial supportthrough the National Park Service and StateHistoric Tax Credit programs, and developerswho have madeinvestmentsof over $400M.Given its preservation success,it is notsurprising that the City and National Parkwere recognized as the 2010 Paul E. TsongasProfiles in Preservation HonoreesbyPreservation Massachusetts.

As part of Preservation Week in 2010, thePark hosted the collaborative exhibit,“Historic Preservation: Then & Now” withHistoric New England at the Boott MillGallery. The exhibit presented Lowell’sdecline and various urban plan proposals forrecovery. During this time, the demolition ofsignificant buildings spawned the historicpreservation movement in Lowell.

In April, Senator John Kerry andRepresentative Niki Tsongas announced a $5 million U.S. Dept. of Energy grantto the City of Lowell for the Carbon-NeutralLowell Park and Preservation Districtinitiative. It will provide a model for pairinghistoric preservation standards with energyconservation.

Cultural Year-Round Folk!Lowell is well known for its annualpresentation of folk music, traditional craftsand ethnic foods through the LowellFolkFestival. This July’s festival will be a veryspecial one! For 25 years, Lowell hascelebrated heritage traditions and this yearwill be bringing forth some of the premierartists from around the globe. Check it out:www.lowellfolkfestival.org. A partner-shipwith the Massachusetts Cultural Council has established a presence in Lowell. Dr.Maggie Holtzberg joined the park staff asour resident folklorist and director ofCultural Programming. The Lowell FolklifeSeriesoffers a robust variety of interactivepresentations of crafts, foodways,performing, and traditions year round. Keep up to date on Lowell Folk at:massfolkarts.org/blog/.

A Rockin’ National ParkAs a commitment to community revital-ization, the Park in partnership with theLowell Festival Foundation has developedthe Lowell Summer Music Seriesthat hasbecome one of the best venues for popularmusic in New England.

Community Exporting the Lowell ExperienceNow in its third year, “Public Matters:Lowell’s Emerging Leaders”continues togrow and support learning and activism that will ensure the Lowell of tomorrow will be served by inspired stewards of ourhistory, social and cultural capital, andeconomic and government institutions. TheClass of 2011 is a diverse group of peoplerepresenting businesses, arts and culture,social services, government, and education.

More than 200 nationwide andinternational participants attended June’s“Innovative Cities: Best Practices in UrbanDevelopment”Conference. The Parkpartnered with Congresswoman NikiTsongas, UMass Lowell, MiddlesexCommunity College, and the Lowell Plan to organize and present this collaboration about the economic, physical, and socialdevelopment of small- to mid-sized cities.National Park Service Director JonathanJarvis and White House Office of UrbanAffairs Director Adolfo Carrion shared theirperspectives. In addition to Lowell, speakersfrom Ann Arbor, Michigan; Asheville, North Carolina; Belfast, Northern Ireland;Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Portland,Oregon offered pioneering efforts from their communities.Congratulations toCongresswoman Tsongas, UMass Lowell,and all the partners.

Through the years, Lowell has hosted manydelegations representing cities from aroundthe world seeking to better understandLowell’s preservation and revitalizationsuccess. In August, Lowell hosteda contin-gent from Paterson, NJ.Afifty memberdelegation representing the City Council,Mayor, preservation organizations, and thebusiness community met with Lowell’sleaders to discuss the country’s newestnational park, “Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park.”

Clear views of Lowell’s transformation are readily made with the “City as aclassroom.”Students and faculty from theHarvard University Graduate School ofDesign made their way to the City in April.Renowned urban planner, Susan Fainstein, brought her class to Lowell to look at urbanrenewal over time and the ways that citiesaddress planning, design, economic,preservation and social issues.

Congresswoman Tsongas, National Park ServiceDirector Jonathan Jarvis, and speaker Gil Kelleyof Portland, OR at the conference.

576,415Visitors

5,080Tours, Events and Special Programs

32,000Lowell Summer Music Series

2,303Volunteers Contributed

95,410Hours! Thank you to all for the energy and enthusiasm you inject, and the links you provide with the local community!

18MVisitors

1MStudents Tsongas Industrial History Center

2MPeople Lowell Folk Festival

$50MInvested Canalway & Riverwalk

80%Historic Mills Restored

$413MInvested

A Special Tribute to Superintendent Sandy WalterThis year saw the loss of Chrysandra Walter. Sandy served as Lowell’s 3rd park superintendent. She was known for her vision and persistence inmoving Lowell from a concept to an operational park.Her passion for education, traditional music andpreservation led to the development of nationallyrecognized programs such as the Tsongas IndustrialHistory Center, the Boott Mills Museum, and theLowell Folk Festival. We are grateful for her leadershipand commitment to Lowell.

The waterwaysalong Lowell’scanals and riversnow have forty newexhibit panels thattell the story ofLowell’s growthand development.

The rehabilitated Appleton Mills sees artists moving intocontemporary apartments and studios, where looms andcotton once dominated the floor space.

Historic Preservation and Cultural Heritage Awards

The National Park, in collaboration with the Lowell Heritage Partnership, recognize:

David McKean for his contributions topreserving Lowell’s Irish cultural history

Maurice Comtois for his documentation ofLowell’s residents in the Civil War

Trinity Financial for the restoration of theAppleton Mills Apartments

Rebecca Duda and students Emily Fox andMeghan Fawcett for Claypit Cemeterydocumentation

Lowell National Historical Park67 Kirk Street, Lowell, MA 01852www.nps.gov/lowe

Stats2010Totals1978–2010

Phot

ogra

phy

and

Desig

n: H

iggi

ns &

Ros

s

Park Legacies & Community Values

Lowell National Historical Park2011 Annual Report

Lowell

Youth Pathways to LearningNumerousbuses arriveeach schoolday on FrenchStreet,students andteachersstream ontothe curb and

head into the mill to become scholarlydetectives and explore issues related toimmigration, environmental history,innovation, globalization and labor history.The Tsongas Industrial History Center willreceive its one millionth program participantduring the Center’s 20th anniversary this year.

Lowell National Historical Park hasdeveloped vast and innovative programs foryouth to connect to the outdoors andexplore aspects of American history. Over 80youth were employed by the park and itspartners this past summer. During a visit toLowell this year, NPS Deputy DirectorMickey Fearn observed the Park’s pathwaysfor youth engagement and heard from manystudents who discussed theirparticipation

in the Student Career Intake Programthat lead to careers in conservation; theSpindle City Corpsthat provides summeremployment and leadership skills to youthages 16-25; the Youth Theater Programthatengages young people in living history; and aPreservation Trade Skills Programwith theGreater Lowell Vocational and TechnicalHigh School that provides opportunities forstudents to hone preservation skills onhistoric properties.

Going to School in a National ParkAs UMASS Lowell has increased itsdowntown presence, the Park and TsongasIndustrial History Center have committed toorienting incoming freshman into their newenvironment—a national park. Nearly 2,000students explored downtown Lowell as anew component on their jam-packedorientation agenda.

Eleven UMass Lowell professorsincorporated the Tsongas Industrial HistoryCenter and Park into their syllabi for a new“Lowell as Text” course and for the HonorsSeminar course, which also used a “city astext” theme incorporating the BoottMuseum, Mill Girls and Immigrants Exhibit,Tsongas Center work- shops, and theConcord River Greenway with TsongasCenter and Park staff.

Farewells and Congrats! A salute to those who have moved on...

Patricia Jones to Independence National Historical Park

Donna Richardson to Grand Canyon National Park

JR Roberts to John F. Kennedy BirthplaceNational Historic Site

Maryann Zujewski to Salem MaritimeNational Historic Site

And...we bid all the best in retirement to:Cathy Burkhart, Ted Fowler, Lee Hammond,Danny Hyde, Dave Redding, and Rick Smith

The theme of this year’s Annual Report, “Stewards of Heritage” supports the belief that

the city of Lowell and the Lowell National Historical Park share a vision of evolving as

thoughtful stewards of our natural and built environment. The national park presence in

this city is a testament to the conviction that the people of Lowell, and this nation, have in

preserving a culturally rich community with a powerful story to tell. It is our hope that the

issues of the past—immigration and race, business and labor, the environment, innovation—

will act as a platform for inspiration and civic dialogue in confronting similar issues today.

The City of Lowell has developed a culture of collaboration. When it comes to problem

solving within our community, we must continue to think and act in new ways. As in the

past, it will require that government bodies, educational institutions, businesses, and

non-profit organizations work differently—and together.

Michael Creasey, Superintendent

Stewards of Heritage

Preservation

Some 30 years ago the City had over 5million square feet of vacant mills. With therecent opening of the Appleton Mill, therehabilitation rate for historic mills inLowell is over 80%. This phenomenalsuccess has been accomplished throughgood urban planning, financial supportthrough the National Park Service and StateHistoric Tax Credit programs, and developerswho have madeinvestmentsof over $400M.Given its preservation success,it is notsurprising that the City and National Parkwere recognized as the 2010 Paul E. TsongasProfiles in Preservation HonoreesbyPreservation Massachusetts.

As part of Preservation Week in 2010, thePark hosted the collaborative exhibit,“Historic Preservation: Then & Now” withHistoric New England at the Boott MillGallery. The exhibit presented Lowell’sdecline and various urban plan proposals forrecovery. During this time, the demolition ofsignificant buildings spawned the historicpreservation movement in Lowell.

In April, Senator John Kerry andRepresentative Niki Tsongas announced a $5 million U.S. Dept. of Energy grantto the City of Lowell for the Carbon-NeutralLowell Park and Preservation Districtinitiative. It will provide a model for pairinghistoric preservation standards with energyconservation.

Cultural Year-Round Folk!Lowell is well known for its annualpresentation of folk music, traditional craftsand ethnic foods through the LowellFolkFestival. This July’s festival will be a veryspecial one! For 25 years, Lowell hascelebrated heritage traditions and this yearwill be bringing forth some of the premierartists from around the globe. Check it out:www.lowellfolkfestival.org. A partner-shipwith the Massachusetts Cultural Council has established a presence in Lowell. Dr.Maggie Holtzberg joined the park staff asour resident folklorist and director ofCultural Programming. The Lowell FolklifeSeriesoffers a robust variety of interactivepresentations of crafts, foodways,performing, and traditions year round. Keep up to date on Lowell Folk at:massfolkarts.org/blog/.

A Rockin’ National ParkAs a commitment to community revital-ization, the Park in partnership with theLowell Festival Foundation has developedthe Lowell Summer Music Seriesthat hasbecome one of the best venues for popularmusic in New England.

Community Exporting the Lowell ExperienceNow in its third year, “Public Matters:Lowell’s Emerging Leaders”continues togrow and support learning and activism that will ensure the Lowell of tomorrow will be served by inspired stewards of ourhistory, social and cultural capital, andeconomic and government institutions. TheClass of 2011 is a diverse group of peoplerepresenting businesses, arts and culture,social services, government, and education.

More than 200 nationwide andinternational participants attended June’s“Innovative Cities: Best Practices in UrbanDevelopment”Conference. The Parkpartnered with Congresswoman NikiTsongas, UMass Lowell, MiddlesexCommunity College, and the Lowell Plan to organize and present this collaboration about the economic, physical, and socialdevelopment of small- to mid-sized cities.National Park Service Director JonathanJarvis and White House Office of UrbanAffairs Director Adolfo Carrion shared theirperspectives. In addition to Lowell, speakersfrom Ann Arbor, Michigan; Asheville, North Carolina; Belfast, Northern Ireland;Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Portland,Oregon offered pioneering efforts from their communities.Congratulations toCongresswoman Tsongas, UMass Lowell,and all the partners.

Through the years, Lowell has hosted manydelegations representing cities from aroundthe world seeking to better understandLowell’s preservation and revitalizationsuccess. In August, Lowell hosteda contin-gent from Paterson, NJ.Afifty memberdelegation representing the City Council,Mayor, preservation organizations, and thebusiness community met with Lowell’sleaders to discuss the country’s newestnational park, “Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park.”

Clear views of Lowell’s transformation are readily made with the “City as aclassroom.”Students and faculty from theHarvard University Graduate School ofDesign made their way to the City in April.Renowned urban planner, Susan Fainstein, brought her class to Lowell to look at urbanrenewal over time and the ways that citiesaddress planning, design, economic,preservation and social issues.

Congresswoman Tsongas, National Park ServiceDirector Jonathan Jarvis, and speaker Gil Kelleyof Portland, OR at the conference.

576,415Visitors

5,080Tours, Events and Special Programs

32,000Lowell Summer Music Series

2,303Volunteers Contributed

95,410Hours! Thank you to all for the energy and enthusiasm you inject, and the links you provide with the local community!

18MVisitors

1MStudents Tsongas Industrial History Center

2MPeople Lowell Folk Festival

$50MInvested Canalway & Riverwalk

80%Historic Mills Restored

$413MInvested

A Special Tribute to Superintendent Sandy WalterThis year saw the loss of Chrysandra Walter. Sandy served as Lowell’s 3rd park superintendent. She was known for her vision and persistence inmoving Lowell from a concept to an operational park.Her passion for education, traditional music andpreservation led to the development of nationallyrecognized programs such as the Tsongas IndustrialHistory Center, the Boott Mills Museum, and theLowell Folk Festival. We are grateful for her leadershipand commitment to Lowell.

The waterwaysalong Lowell’scanals and riversnow have forty newexhibit panels thattell the story ofLowell’s growthand development.

The rehabilitated Appleton Mills sees artists moving intocontemporary apartments and studios, where looms andcotton once dominated the floor space.

Historic Preservation and Cultural Heritage Awards

The National Park, in collaboration with the Lowell Heritage Partnership, recognize:

David McKean for his contributions topreserving Lowell’s Irish cultural history

Maurice Comtois for his documentation ofLowell’s residents in the Civil War

Trinity Financial for the restoration of theAppleton Mills Apartments

Rebecca Duda and students Emily Fox andMeghan Fawcett for Claypit Cemeterydocumentation

Lowell National Historical Park67 Kirk Street, Lowell, MA 01852www.nps.gov/lowe

Stats2010Totals1978–2010

Phot

ogra

phy

and

Desig

n: H

iggi

ns &

Ros

s

Park Legacies & Community Values

Lowell National Historical Park2011 Annual Report

Lowell

Youth Pathways to LearningNumerousbuses arriveeach schoolday on FrenchStreet,students andteachersstream ontothe curb and

head into the mill to become scholarlydetectives and explore issues related toimmigration, environmental history,innovation, globalization and labor history.The Tsongas Industrial History Center willreceive its one millionth program participantduring the Center’s 20th anniversary this year.

Lowell National Historical Park hasdeveloped vast and innovative programs foryouth to connect to the outdoors andexplore aspects of American history. Over 80youth were employed by the park and itspartners this past summer. During a visit toLowell this year, NPS Deputy DirectorMickey Fearn observed the Park’s pathwaysfor youth engagement and heard from manystudents who discussed their participation

in the Student Career Intake Programthat lead to careers in conservation; theSpindle City Corps that provides summeremployment and leadership skills to youthages 16-25; the Youth Theater Program thatengages young people in living history; and aPreservation Trade Skills Program with theGreater Lowell Vocational and TechnicalHigh School that provides opportunities forstudents to hone preservation skills onhistoric properties.

Going to School in a National ParkAs UMASS Lowell has increased itsdowntown presence, the Park and TsongasIndustrial History Center have committed toorienting incoming freshman into their newenvironment—a national park. Nearly 2,000students explored downtown Lowell as anew component on their jam-packedorientation agenda.

Eleven UMass Lowell professorsincorporated the Tsongas Industrial HistoryCenter and Park into their syllabi for a new“Lowell as Text” course and for the HonorsSeminar course, which also used a “city astext” theme incorporating the BoottMuseum, Mill Girls and Immigrants Exhibit,Tsongas Center work- shops, and theConcord River Greenway with TsongasCenter and Park staff.

Farewells and Congrats! A salute to those who have moved on...

Patricia Jonesto Independence National Historical Park

Donna Richardsonto Grand Canyon National Park

JR Roberts to John F. Kennedy BirthplaceNational Historic Site

Maryann Zujewskito Salem MaritimeNational Historic Site

And...we bid all the best in retirement to:Cathy Burkhart, Ted Fowler, Lee Hammond,Danny Hyde, Dave Redding,and Rick Smith

The theme of this year’s Annual Report, “Stewards of Heritage”supports the belief that

the city of Lowell and the Lowell National Historical Park share a vision of evolving as

thoughtful stewards of our natural and built environment. The national park presence in

this city is a testament to the conviction that the people of Lowell, and this nation, have in

preserving a culturally rich community with a powerful story to tell. It is our hope that the

issues of the past—immigration and race, business and labor, the environment, innovation—

will act as a platform for inspiration and civic dialogue in confronting similar issues today.

The City of Lowell has developed a culture of collaboration. When it comes to problem

solving within our community, we must continue to think and act in new ways. As in the

past, it will require that government bodies, educational institutions, businesses, and

non-profit organizations work differently—and together.

Michael Creasey, Superintendent

Stewards of Heritage

Preservation

Some 30 years ago the City had over 5million square feet of vacant mills. With therecent opening of the Appleton Mill, therehabilitation rate for historic mills inLowell is over 80%. This phenomenalsuccess has been accomplished throughgood urban planning, financial supportthrough the National Park Service and StateHistoric Tax Credit programs, and developerswho have made investments of over $400M.Given its preservation success, it is notsurprising that the City and National Parkwere recognized as the 2010 Paul E. TsongasProfiles in Preservation Honorees byPreservation Massachusetts.

As part of Preservation Week in 2010, thePark hosted the collaborative exhibit,“Historic Preservation: Then & Now” withHistoric New England at the Boott MillGallery. The exhibit presented Lowell’sdecline and various urban plan proposals forrecovery. During this time, the demolition ofsignificant buildings spawned the historicpreservation movement in Lowell.

In April, Senator John Kerry andRepresentative Niki Tsongas announced a $5 million U.S. Dept. of Energy grant to the City of Lowell for the Carbon-NeutralLowell Park and Preservation Districtinitiative. It will provide a model for pairinghistoric preservation standards with energyconservation.

Cultural Year-Round Folk!Lowell is well known for its annualpresentation of folk music, traditional craftsand ethnic foods through the Lowell FolkFestival. This July’s festival will be a veryspecial one! For 25 years, Lowell hascelebrated heritage traditions and this yearwill be bringing forth some of the premierartists from around the globe. Check it out:www.lowellfolkfestival.org. A partner-shipwith the Massachusetts Cultural Council has established a presence in Lowell. Dr.Maggie Holtzberg joined the park staff asour resident folklorist and director ofCultural Programming. The Lowell FolklifeSeries offers a robust variety of interactivepresentations of crafts, foodways,performing, and traditions year round. Keep up to date on Lowell Folk at:massfolkarts.org/blog/.

A Rockin’ National ParkAs a commitment to community revital-ization, the Park in partnership with theLowell Festival Foundation has developedthe Lowell Summer Music Series that hasbecome one of the best venues for popularmusic in New England.

Community Exporting the Lowell ExperienceNow in its third year, “Public Matters:Lowell’s Emerging Leaders” continues togrow and support learning and activism that will ensure the Lowell of tomorrow will be served by inspired stewards of ourhistory, social and cultural capital, andeconomic and government institutions. TheClass of 2011 is a diverse group of peoplerepresenting businesses, arts and culture,social services, government, and education.

More than 200 nationwide andinternational participants attended June’s“Innovative Cities: Best Practices in UrbanDevelopment” Conference. The Parkpartnered with Congresswoman NikiTsongas, UMass Lowell, MiddlesexCommunity College, and the Lowell Plan to organize and present this collaboration about the economic, physical, and socialdevelopment of small- to mid-sized cities.National Park Service Director JonathanJarvis and White House Office of UrbanAffairs Director Adolfo Carrion shared theirperspectives. In addition to Lowell, speakersfrom Ann Arbor, Michigan; Asheville, North Carolina; Belfast, Northern Ireland;Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Portland,Oregon offered pioneering efforts from their communities. Congratulations toCongresswoman Tsongas, UMass Lowell,and all the partners.

Through the years, Lowell has hosted manydelegations representing cities from aroundthe world seeking to better understandLowell’s preservation and revitalizationsuccess. In August, Lowell hosted a contin-gent from Paterson, NJ. A fifty memberdelegation representing the City Council,Mayor, preservation organizations, and thebusiness community met with Lowell’sleaders to discuss the country’s newestnational park, “Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park.”

Clear views of Lowell’s transformation are readily made with the “City as aclassroom.” Students and faculty from theHarvard University Graduate School ofDesign made their way to the City in April.Renowned urban planner, Susan Fainstein, brought her class to Lowell to look at urbanrenewal over time and the ways that citiesaddress planning, design, economic,preservation and social issues.

Congresswoman Tsongas, National Park ServiceDirector Jonathan Jarvis, and speaker Gil Kelleyof Portland, OR at the conference.

576,415 Visitors

5,080 Tours, Events and Special Programs

32,000 Lowell Summer Music Series

2,303 Volunteers Contributed

95,410 Hours! Thank you to all for the energy and enthusiasm you inject, and the links you provide with the local community!

18M Visitors

1M Students Tsongas Industrial History Center

2M People Lowell Folk Festival

$50M Invested Canalway & Riverwalk

80%Historic Mills Restored

$413M Invested

A Special Tribute to Superintendent Sandy WalterThis year saw the loss of Chrysandra Walter. Sandy served as Lowell’s 3rd park superintendent. She was known for her vision and persistence inmoving Lowell from a concept to an operational park.Her passion for education, traditional music andpreservation led to the development of nationallyrecognized programs such as the Tsongas IndustrialHistory Center, the Boott Mills Museum, and theLowell Folk Festival. We are grateful for her leadershipand commitment to Lowell.

The waterwaysalong Lowell’scanals and riversnow have forty newexhibit panels thattell the story ofLowell’s growthand development.

The rehabilitated Appleton Mills sees artists moving intocontemporary apartments and studios, where looms andcotton once dominated the floor space.

Historic Preservation and Cultural Heritage Awards

The National Park, in collaboration with the Lowell Heritage Partnership, recognize:

David McKeanfor his contributions topreserving Lowell’s Irish cultural history

Maurice Comtoisfor his documentation ofLowell’s residents in the Civil War

Trinity Financialfor the restoration of theAppleton Mills Apartments

Rebecca Duda and students Emily Fox andMeghan Fawcettfor Claypit Cemeterydocumentation

Lowell National Historical Park67 Kirk Street, Lowell, MA 01852www.nps.gov/lowe

Stats 2010 Totals 1978–2010

Photography and Design: Higgins & Ross

Park Legacies & Community Values

Lowell National Historical Park2011 Annual Report

Lowell

Youth Pathways to LearningNumerousbuses arriveeach schoolday on FrenchStreet,students andteachersstream ontothe curb and

head into the mill to become scholarlydetectives and explore issues related toimmigration, environmental history,innovation, globalization and labor history.The Tsongas Industrial History Center willreceive its one millionth program participantduring the Center’s 20th anniversary this year.

Lowell National Historical Park hasdeveloped vast and innovative programs foryouth to connect to the outdoors andexplore aspects of American history. Over 80youth were employed by the park and itspartners this past summer. During a visit toLowell this year, NPS Deputy DirectorMickey Fearn observed the Park’s pathwaysfor youth engagement and heard from manystudents who discussed theirparticipation

in the Student Career Intake Programthat lead to careers in conservation; theSpindle City Corpsthat provides summeremployment and leadership skills to youthages 16-25; the Youth Theater Programthatengages young people in living history; and aPreservation Trade Skills Programwith theGreater Lowell Vocational and TechnicalHigh School that provides opportunities forstudents to hone preservation skills onhistoric properties.

Going to School in a National ParkAs UMASS Lowell has increased itsdowntown presence, the Park and TsongasIndustrial History Center have committed toorienting incoming freshman into their newenvironment—a national park. Nearly 2,000students explored downtown Lowell as anew component on their jam-packedorientation agenda.

Eleven UMass Lowell professorsincorporated the Tsongas Industrial HistoryCenter and Park into their syllabi for a new“Lowell as Text” course and for the HonorsSeminar course, which also used a “city astext” theme incorporating the BoottMuseum, Mill Girls and Immigrants Exhibit,Tsongas Center work- shops, and theConcord River Greenway with TsongasCenter and Park staff.

Farewells and Congrats! A salute to those who have moved on...

Patricia Jones to Independence National Historical Park

Donna Richardson to Grand Canyon National Park

JR Roberts to John F. Kennedy BirthplaceNational Historic Site

Maryann Zujewski to Salem MaritimeNational Historic Site

And...we bid all the best in retirement to:Cathy Burkhart, Ted Fowler, Lee Hammond,Danny Hyde, Dave Redding, and Rick Smith

The theme of this year’s Annual Report, “Stewards of Heritage” supports the belief that

the city of Lowell and the Lowell National Historical Park share a vision of evolving as

thoughtful stewards of our natural and built environment. The national park presence in

this city is a testament to the conviction that the people of Lowell, and this nation, have in

preserving a culturally rich community with a powerful story to tell. It is our hope that the

issues of the past—immigration and race, business and labor, the environment, innovation—

will act as a platform for inspiration and civic dialogue in confronting similar issues today.

The City of Lowell has developed a culture of collaboration. When it comes to problem

solving within our community, we must continue to think and act in new ways. As in the

past, it will require that government bodies, educational institutions, businesses, and

non-profit organizations work differently—and together.

Michael Creasey, Superintendent

Stewards of Heritage

Preservation

Some 30 years ago the City had over 5million square feet of vacant mills. With therecent opening of the Appleton Mill, therehabilitation rate for historic mills inLowell is over 80%. This phenomenalsuccess has been accomplished throughgood urban planning, financial supportthrough the National Park Service and StateHistoric Tax Credit programs, and developerswho have madeinvestmentsof over $400M.Given its preservation success,it is notsurprising that the City and National Parkwere recognized as the 2010 Paul E. TsongasProfiles in Preservation HonoreesbyPreservation Massachusetts.

As part of Preservation Week in 2010, thePark hosted the collaborative exhibit,“Historic Preservation: Then & Now” withHistoric New England at the Boott MillGallery. The exhibit presented Lowell’sdecline and various urban plan proposals forrecovery. During this time, the demolition ofsignificant buildings spawned the historicpreservation movement in Lowell.

In April, Senator John Kerry andRepresentative Niki Tsongas announced a $5 million U.S. Dept. of Energy grantto the City of Lowell for the Carbon-NeutralLowell Park and Preservation Districtinitiative. It will provide a model for pairinghistoric preservation standards with energyconservation.

Cultural Year-Round Folk!Lowell is well known for its annualpresentation of folk music, traditional craftsand ethnic foods through the LowellFolkFestival. This July’s festival will be a veryspecial one! For 25 years, Lowell hascelebrated heritage traditions and this yearwill be bringing forth some of the premierartists from around the globe. Check it out:www.lowellfolkfestival.org. A partner-shipwith the Massachusetts Cultural Council has established a presence in Lowell. Dr.Maggie Holtzberg joined the park staff asour resident folklorist and director ofCultural Programming. The Lowell FolklifeSeriesoffers a robust variety of interactivepresentations of crafts, foodways,performing, and traditions year round. Keep up to date on Lowell Folk at:massfolkarts.org/blog/.

A Rockin’ National ParkAs a commitment to community revital-ization, the Park in partnership with theLowell Festival Foundation has developedthe Lowell Summer Music Seriesthat hasbecome one of the best venues for popularmusic in New England.

Community Exporting the Lowell ExperienceNow in its third year, “Public Matters:Lowell’s Emerging Leaders”continues togrow and support learning and activism that will ensure the Lowell of tomorrow will be served by inspired stewards of ourhistory, social and cultural capital, andeconomic and government institutions. TheClass of 2011 is a diverse group of peoplerepresenting businesses, arts and culture,social services, government, and education.

More than 200 nationwide andinternational participants attended June’s“Innovative Cities: Best Practices in UrbanDevelopment”Conference. The Parkpartnered with Congresswoman NikiTsongas, UMass Lowell, MiddlesexCommunity College, and the Lowell Plan to organize and present this collaboration about the economic, physical, and socialdevelopment of small- to mid-sized cities.National Park Service Director JonathanJarvis and White House Office of UrbanAffairs Director Adolfo Carrion shared theirperspectives. In addition to Lowell, speakersfrom Ann Arbor, Michigan; Asheville, North Carolina; Belfast, Northern Ireland;Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Portland,Oregon offered pioneering efforts from their communities.Congratulations toCongresswoman Tsongas, UMass Lowell,and all the partners.

Through the years, Lowell has hosted manydelegations representing cities from aroundthe world seeking to better understandLowell’s preservation and revitalizationsuccess. In August, Lowell hosteda contin-gent from Paterson, NJ.Afifty memberdelegation representing the City Council,Mayor, preservation organizations, and thebusiness community met with Lowell’sleaders to discuss the country’s newestnational park, “Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park.”

Clear views of Lowell’s transformation are readily made with the “City as aclassroom.”Students and faculty from theHarvard University Graduate School ofDesign made their way to the City in April.Renowned urban planner, Susan Fainstein, brought her class to Lowell to look at urbanrenewal over time and the ways that citiesaddress planning, design, economic,preservation and social issues.

Congresswoman Tsongas, National Park ServiceDirector Jonathan Jarvis, and speaker Gil Kelleyof Portland, OR at the conference.

576,415Visitors

5,080Tours, Events and Special Programs

32,000Lowell Summer Music Series

2,303Volunteers Contributed

95,410Hours! Thank you to all for the energy and enthusiasm you inject, and the links you provide with the local community!

18MVisitors

1MStudents Tsongas Industrial History Center

2MPeople Lowell Folk Festival

$50MInvested Canalway & Riverwalk

80%Historic Mills Restored

$413MInvested

A Special Tribute to Superintendent Sandy WalterThis year saw the loss of Chrysandra Walter. Sandy served as Lowell’s 3rd park superintendent. She was known for her vision and persistence inmoving Lowell from a concept to an operational park.Her passion for education, traditional music andpreservation led to the development of nationallyrecognized programs such as the Tsongas IndustrialHistory Center, the Boott Mills Museum, and theLowell Folk Festival. We are grateful for her leadershipand commitment to Lowell.

The waterwaysalong Lowell’scanals and riversnow have forty newexhibit panels thattell the story ofLowell’s growthand development.

The rehabilitated Appleton Mills sees artists moving intocontemporary apartments and studios, where looms andcotton once dominated the floor space.

Historic Preservation and Cultural Heritage Awards

The National Park, in collaboration with the Lowell Heritage Partnership, recognize:

David McKean for his contributions topreserving Lowell’s Irish cultural history

Maurice Comtois for his documentation ofLowell’s residents in the Civil War

Trinity Financial for the restoration of theAppleton Mills Apartments

Rebecca Duda and students Emily Fox andMeghan Fawcett for Claypit Cemeterydocumentation

Lowell National Historical Park67 Kirk Street, Lowell, MA 01852www.nps.gov/lowe

Stats2010Totals1978–2010

Phot

ogra

phy

and

Desig

n: H

iggi

ns &

Ros

s

Heritage LegaciesLowell National Historical Park