Downtown Pawtucket walking tour, Saturday, October 12, 10:30 a.m.

The Blackstone River was the power source for the mills of Pawtucket’s early settlers.  The adjacent area on west side of the river was part of Providence until 1765, when it was set off as a new village of Pawtucket in the town of North Providence.  The village became a thriving center of industry and prosperity.  In 1862 Pawtucket, MA on the east side of the river, was transferred to Rhode Island.  In 1886 both villages were incorporated together as the City of Pawtucket.  Business was booming in Pawtucket, and Main Street became the heart of the city.  Banks, retail stores, transportation hubs, hotels, libraries, and theaters met the needs of those who lived and visited here.  Come along on this walk to share stories about the neighborhood called Downtown.  We will meet at the corner of Main and Roosevelt (at the Cogswell Fountain near the bridge) and will end at the corner of High and Summer Streets.  The tour is free, but we ask that you RSVP either by emailing us at pawtucketpreservation@gmail.com or by leaving a message at 401.725.9581.

While you're in the downtown area, visit the EP Kitchen newly opened in the historic Grant Building at 250 Main Street.  Order a Brooklyn-style deli sandwich or the Argentinean empanadas.  This is a newly opened business on Main Street and we're hoping it will be there for a long time.

Central Falls walking tour, Saturday, October 19, 10:30 a.m.

Lecture  -  Architect Raymond Hood, Thursday, October 24, 6:30 p.m., Pawtucket Library Auditorium

The Preservation Society of Pawtucket (PSP) and the Pawtucket Public Library will host a lecture on the work of acclaimed architect Raymond Hood, whose early life and education are closely tied to Rhode Island. Brown University PhD student Jonathan Duval will discuss Hood’s works specific to the area, and provide a preview of an upcoming exhibition on Hood curated by Duval and Dietrich Neumann, Professor of the History of Modern Architecture at Brown, opening next spring.

 

Recent Walking Tours

In case you missed any of our recent walking tours... print out any of the tour guide sheets below, take a friend, and discover Pawtucket's rich and fascinating history!