The Tsongas Industrial History Center supports and encourages the teaching of industrial history using site-based, hands-on experiences for over 40,000 students in grades 3 through 12 annually. All programs are aligned with Massachusetts and New Hampshire State Curriculum Frameworks.

Our location within Lowell National Historical Park allows students to explore historic cotton mills, 5.6 miles of canals, gatehouses, and worker housing. We use these resources to engage students in such topics as labor history, immigration, economics, textile production, globalization, technology/engineering, and impacts of industrialization on nature and society.


Financial Aid

If you need financial assistance to be able to bring your students on a field trip, please check with our staff when you call. Some financial aid for field trips may be available.

We may have available funding to reserve free Workers on the Line programs through support from the Massachusetts American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Union and its locals. Mention "AFL-CIO Union funding" when you call to reserve programs. This opportunity is available on a first-come, first-served basis each school year.

The offers grants through the grant program. Title 1 schools are eligible to apply for grants of up to $1,000 for in-park experiences. These funds can help to pay for your Tsongas Industrial History Center programs at Lowell National Historical Park and transportation costs. The deadline for this year is February 7, 2025.

The Tsongas Industrial History Center also recommends applying for funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council's .

Teachers we know have also had success applying for field trip money from .

Grade Chart

In-Person Programs and Virtual Field TripsGrade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8HighSchool HS)SHistory and Social StudiesCivicsScience and Engineering
Bale to Boltβœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”
Change In The Makingβœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”
Community Connectionsβœ”βœ”
Engineer It!βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”
Exploring The Immigrant Experienceβœ”βœ”βœ”
Farm to Factoryβœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”
Power to Productionβœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”
River as a Classroomβœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”
Workers on the Lineβœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”
Yankees and Immigrantsβœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”
Change Over Time: Through Children’s Eyesβœ”βœ”βœ”
Citizens Respond to an Industrial Crisisβœ”βœ”
Engineering a Better Futureβœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”
Human Impact on the Living Planetβœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”
Mill Girls: Life and Work in an Industrial Cityβœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”
Immigration, Culture, and Communityβœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”
Same, Only Differentβœ”βœ”
Waterpower: Powering a Revolutionβœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”βœ”

Partnership

The Tsongas Industrial History Center is an education partnership between the University of Massachusetts Lowell School of Education and the National Park Service at Lowell National Historical Park.

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  • National Park Service