Guided Tours

Guided tours are offered seasonally at Lowell National Historical Park. Go to the operating hours and season page to learn more about visiting the park.

Tours are currently not offered for the Winter Season (October 15, 2024 - April 25, 2025). Check our events calendar for special programs and events.

Outdoor tours may be canceled due to unsafe weather conditions, including high heat or rainstorms. If you are unsure about a reserved tour, please call us at 978-970-5000.

Mill and Trolley Tour

Explore how numerous factors have shaped both the city’s past and its present. This tour combines a short trip through the historic city on the trolley accompanied by a park ranger with a guided visit to the River Transformed Exhibit at the Suffolk Mill. Visitors should plan for a 75-minute tour, much of which will be spent on your feet. Visitors can expect to walk as much as 0.5-miles on paved paths and are encouraged to bring water.

April 26-June 14, 2025

• Offered Monday-Friday at 2 p.m.

• Meets and ends at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St.)

This tour is free. To reserve your spot, call (978) 970-5000 or check in at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum front desk.

A River Transformed Walking Tour

Discover how the power of the Merrimack River was harnessed into textile production in the 19th century. This tour combines a walk along the riverwalk accompanied by a park ranger with a guided visit to the River Transformed Exhibit at the Suffolk Mill. Visitors should plan for a 75-minute tour, all of which will be spent on your feet. Visitors can expect to walk as much as 1.5-miles on paved paths and are encouraged to bring water.

April 26-June 14, 2025

• Offered Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

• Meets and ends at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum (115 John St.)

This tour is free. To reserve your spot, call (978) 970-5000 or check in at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum front desk.

Pawtucket Canal Boat Tour

Who dug the canals? Who laid the stone walls? Who operated the locks and gates? Discover the human stories of the workers who built and operated Lowell's remarkable waterpower system while riding along the historic Pawtucket Canal. Disembark at the historic Francis Gate and explore how mill owners and engineers harnessed and directed water through the city. Find out who is still "working the water" today.

Canal tours include a short walk from the park Visitor Center at 246 Market Street to the boat landing at Swamp Locks. The walkway follows a gentle, paved slope. Please wear comfortable shoes. Francis Gate access is dependent on water levels and may not always be available.

This tour involves at maximum of 0.75 miles of walking. To enter the Francis Gate, visitors must disembark from the boat and climb a steep set of stone stairs. Visitors are welcome to remain in the boat if they do not feel comfortable climbing to the historic gatehouse with the ranger. Please use the restroom beforehand as there are none available on the tour. Bring water and sun protection as the boat is not covered.

Boat tour registration available at recreation.gov. Dates for 2025 will be released in May.

Riverboat Tours

Discover the stories of the people who made the Merrimack River their home throughout the centuries. Learn more about how the landscape has changed.

These 60-minute tours on the Francis Cabot Lowell Riverboat leave from the UMass Lowell Bellegarde Boathouse (500 Pawtucket Blvd, Lowell, MA 01854).

For important tour information and directions, please check this link.

Dates for 2025 will be released in May. Advanced reservations are required at recreation.gov.

Special Tours and Programs

Lowell National Historical Park often offers a variety of special talks, tours, and programs. Check our Special Events Calendar to learn more about these opportunities.