Visitors shouldn’t miss Doors Open XTRAs, special opportunities to enhance your Doors Open Lowell experience through interaction with design professionals or other special building-affiliated events.  Doors Open XTRAs are free and no preregistration is required.  However, building owners may reserve the right to limit attendance during these times on a first come, first serve basis.

Be sure to pick up your Doors Open Lowell Downtown Architectural Scavenger Hunt throughout the event at the National Park Visitor Center and Boott Cotton Mills Museum (Saturday only). 

Friday, May 16

6:00pm – 9:00pm

Take a ride on New Orleans’ “streetcar named Desire,” departing from behind the National Streetcar Museum on Dutton Street. 

American Textile History Museum  
491 Dutton Street

Learn about the museum’s ongoing exhibit redesign efforts and take part in hands-on family craft programs through Get Crafty & Sneak-a-Peak at the Upcoming New American Textile History Museum.

Saturday, May 17

11:00am - noon

Tsongas Industrial History Center/Boott Cotton Mills Museum 
130 John Street

Waterpower Room interactive family program.

11:00am – 1:00pm

Boston & Maine Railroad Depot
240 Central Street

Meet Lowell National Historical Park architect Chuck Parrott and discover how plans for the building’s restoration were developed.

11:00am - 2:00pm

Pollard Memorial Library
401 Merrimack Street

Catch one of the “Art in the Library” tours of the building’s varied art collection.

11:30am – 12:30pm
Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center 
246 Market Street

Join a National Park Service ranger in period canal locktender dress and discover 19th century lock and canal operations during this walking tour to Swamp Locks on the Pawtucket Canal

12:30pm and 1:30pm

Masonic Temple 
79 Dutton Street

Don’t miss the rare public showings of the Masons’ celestial lighting display in Grecian Hall.

1:00pm – 2:00pm

Tsongas Industrial History Center/Boott Cotton Mills Museum 
130 John Street

Weave Room interactive family program.

2:00pm – 3:00pm

Boott Mills Courtyard  
130 John Street

Enjoy 19th century mill era music, songs, and anecdotes with Lowell National Historical Park’s Alex Demas.

3:00pm – 4:30pm

Boott Cotton Mills Courtyard
130 John Street

Discover efforts to preserve historic buildings in Lowell during this Then and Now: Views of Lowell downtown walking tour with Lowell National Historical Park architect Chuck Parrott.

3:00pm – 6:00pm

Perkins Place (former Lawrence Mfg. Co. millyard)
Perkins Street  @ Cabot Street

Meet architects from Ganek Architects and see how plans for the mills’ rehabilitation are being developed.

Spalding House

383 Pawtucket Street

Meet the “Window Woman” and learn about the house’s new window restoration project.

Pawtucket Congregational Church
15 Mammoth Road

Come learn about the 1898 Cole church organ and see the church’s 1812 Revere Bell.

Allen House
Solomont Way @ Broadway Street (UMass Lowell South Campus)

Meet architect Jay Mason and learn how plans for the building were developed.

Destination World – Laotian Legacy
Saturday, May 17

As part of Doors Open Lowell, this year visitors can take part in special activities that “open the doors” to Laotian culture.  Discover traditional arts, music, food, and contemporary dance as well as the Mogan Cultural Center’s Legacies of War exhibit.

3:00pm – 4:15pm
McDonough Arts Magnet Theater, John Street (across from the John Street Parking Garage)

Laos Traditional Arts: experience authentic Laotian music and dance forms, a monks’ blessing ceremony, and a spoken word & fashion show with traditional Laotian dresses.

4:30pm – 5:30pm 
Mogan Cultural Center, 40 French Street

Bombies screening: Watch clips from this award-winning film about the aftermath of the U.S. bombing campaign in Laos during the Vietnam war-era. A panel discussion with Lowell’s Laos community members will follow.

5:30pm - 6:30pm
Mogan Cultural Center, 40 French Street

Taste of Laos: enjoy free Laotian treats!

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