DOORS OPEN LOWELL 2010

Please click on the building name to see a detailed history.



1.  Whistler House Museum of Art
243 Worthen Street

Originally built ca. 1825, this wood-frame Federal/Greek Revival building was built as the residence for the Lowell Machine Shop’s agent.  Best known as the birthplace of artist James McNeil Whistler, the home was acquired by the Lowell Art Association in 1908. 

2.  Old Lowell National Bank
88 Prescott Street

The Old Lowell National Bank building was built ca. 1920 in the Classical Revival style.  See how the building, as well as the adjacent Greek Revival Spaulding Building (ca. 1845), has been rehabilitated for residential use.

3.  Claflin Block

58 Prescott Street (rear)

The Queen Anne style Claflin Block (ca. 1882) has been rehabilitated for new residential and retail use.  Discover how Tutto Bene, located to the rear along the Eastern Canal, has designed exciting retail space for their wine and cheese shop.

4.  Fairburn Building

10 Kearney Square

The Victorian Fairburn Building (ca. 1892) has been converted into residential lofts as well as rehabilitated commercial space.  Discover the building’s rebirth and visit a unit containing one of the foremost private collections of Lowell patent medicine memorabilia.

5.  Kirk Street School

31 Kirk Street

Built in 1881 by the City of Lowell to house a primary school, the building in later years housed the AHEPA Center, an association that assisted Greek immigrants in America.  See how Madison Security Group has reused the building for their corporate offices.

6.  Early Residence

45 Kirk Street

Constructed ca. 1845, this Federal/Greek Revival style building is one of the few remaining pre-Civil War private residences in the center of Lowell.  Rehabilitated by the Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank in 1989, the building presently houses Community Teamwork Inc.’s fuel assistance and WIC programs.

7.  Kirk Street Agents House

67 Kirk Street

This Greek Revival style building was built in 1846 to house the agents for both the Boott Cotton Mills and Massachusetts Mills.  See how the home has been rehabilitated for the Lowell National Historical Park’s headquarters.

8.  Tenth Street School

57 Tenth Street

Built in 1880, this Italianate style primary school was built to relieve overcrowding at the nearby Varnum School.  See how the school has been reused and converted into two residential condominiums.  

9.  Federal Building

50 Kearney Square

This building was originally Lowell’s post office when built by the federal government in the early 1930s.  Discover the building’s rehabilitation and reuse as a library and other educational space by Middlesex Community College.

10.  St. Paul’s Church

34 Hurd Street

See how the Greek Revival style former St. Paul’s Church (1839) is being transformed for use by the United Teen Equality Center (UTEC) and is being designed according to green, sustainable standards.

11.  Loft 27

27 Jackson Street

The Hamilton Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1825, the second of Lowell’s original ten large textile corporations.  See how Mill No. 7, built between 1911 and 1919, has been converted into residential use.

12.  Appleton Mills  *New in 2010*

Jackson Street

Built between 1902 and 1914, Mills No. 1, 1A, and 4 were among the last buildings built in the Appleton millyard.  Currently in the midst of construction, catch a glimpse of how these former mill buildings are being rehabilitated for use as artist live-work residences by Trinity Financial as part of the Hamilton Canal District project.  

13.  Davis & Sargent Building 

585 Middlesex Street

Built ca. 1880, this Italianate style building was originally home to the Davis & Sargent Company, a manufacturer of custom millwork and wooden boxes.  Discover how sustainable design and historic preservation was successfully combined at Lowell’s first LEED certified “green” building that is now home to Nobis Engineering. 

14.  Western Avenue Studios   

122 Western Avenue

This complex of mill buildings built between 1890 and 1940 has historically been home to many industrial uses including the Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company.  See how portions of the millyard are being reused in exciting and creative ways by the artists of Western Avenue Studios.  NOTE:  Site is open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

15.  The Space 

150 Western Avenue

Discover how the former Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company’s office (ca. 1910) has been converted into a unique and exciting rehearsal and recording studio complex known as The Space.

16. Lofts at Perkins Park
39 Perkins Street

See how Mill No. 12 (1907) and Storehouse No. 14 (1876) in the former Lawrence Manufacturing Company millyard have been rehabilitated for new residential use. 

17.  Apartments at Boott Mills

141 John Street

The Boott millyard is one of the most historic and architecturally significant millyards in the United States, having been constructed in phases between 1835 and the early 20^th century.  See how mill space has been transformed into exciting residential space.

18.  Tremont Yard  *New in 2010*

1 Tremont Place

Located beneath the new home of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, discover newly exposed historic subterranean waterpower features.  These archeological remains were the site of pioneering turbine experiments undertaken by famed engineer James B. Francis in 1855.  

19.  Suffolk Mill  *New in 2010*

600 Suffolk Street

Visit the Lowell National Historical Park’s River Transformed exhibit and view original 19^th century turbines and water raceways while you learn how industrialists and engineers harnessed the power of the Merrimack River to drive Lowell’s textile mills.  Explore the history of the watershed, the human uses of the river system, and the impacts of industrialization on the river.  NOTE:  Site is open from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

20.  Renaissance on the River

Corner of Perkins and Aiken Streets

The Lawrence Manufacturing Company was chartered in 1831 as one of Lowell’s original ten large textile corporations.  See how portions of the remaining millyard have been converted into residential condominiums.

21.  Eldred Field Hydroelectric Plant 

145 Pawtucket Street

Located on the Northern Canal, this hydroelectric plant is the newest and largest of five on the Lowell Canal System.  Built in the 1980s, this 17 megawatt plant is currently owned and operated by Enel North America.

22.  Franco-American School

357 Pawtucket Street

Originally built as a private residence, the former Frederick Ayer mansion built in 1876 is one of the most ornate buildings in Lowell.  Tour this Second Empire style masterpiece that has been well preserved through its reuse as the Franco-American School.

23.  Pawtucket Gatehouse

School Street @ Northern Canal

This gatehouse (1847) is the largest on the Lowell canal system and controlled the flow of water into the Northern Canal.  Still in use today, the gatehouse contains much of its original gate raising equipment.  

24.  Pawtucket Congregational Church

15 Mammoth Road

The Romanesque Revival style Pawtucket Congregational Church was built in 1898 and is the home of an 1812 Revere bell.  Tour the church and learn more about their ongoing stained glass restoration efforts.  

25. Allen House

Solomont Way @ Broadway Street (UMass Lowell South Campus)

The Allen House (1854) is one of Lowell’s earliest surviving Italianate residential buildings.  See how UMass Lowell has restored the building for use as the Chancellor's Office and gallery space.