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Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation

Located in the Francis Cabot Lowell Mill, an icon of the American Industrial Revolution, the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation brings together intriguing artifacts, cultural insights, and inspiring stories to delight people of all ages, enabling them to see the past and envision the future.

https://www.charlesrivermuseum.org/

What is Industrial Archeology: Its Past and Future

Wed, Nov 19, 2025

The field of industrial archeology (IA) is now about 70 years old and has passed through stages of life, from an exuberant youth filled with discovery – the period when the Charles River Museum of Industry was founded – to its sedate present. Interest in the field seems to be waning, judging from declining membership in IA groups, and even the name of the field confuses people. Those of us who would like to see the field survive and flourish wonder how it can be re-energized, in what direction should it go?

This presentation explains what industrial archeology is. It traces the history of the field, from its beginnings in England in the 1950s and the founding of the U.S. Society for Industrial Archeology in 1971, to the present, and describes some of its contributions, like the early surveys of historic textile mills. It covers its connections to allied history and practice fields, like history of technology and historic preservation. Sara Wermiel concludes by presenting her ideas for what the field might focus on, to have a purpose that can sustain it.

Mill Talks

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Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
Reverse Engineering the American Power Loom

Wed, Oct 29, 2025

Mac Whatley, historian, and Director of Local History and Genealogy Resources at the Randolph County Public Library, takes us on a deep dive into the rich history of the power loom.

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Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
Women War Workers at Raytheon, 1941-1945

Wed, Oct 22, 2025

Chet Michalak, Raytheon historian and archivist, tracks women's participation in U.S. labor in this lecture.

Forum Network

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Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
Why are Workers’ Stories Missing at Historic Sites?

Wed, Oct 1, 2025

The labor movement in the United States has been a bulwark of democracy and a driving force for social and economic equality. Yet the stories remain largely unknown to Americans.

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Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
The Great Boston Fire of 1872: How a massive conflagration nearly incinerated the city

Wed, Nov 12, 2025

For two days in November 1872, a massive fire swept through Boston, leaving the downtown in ruins and the population traumatized.

Forum Network

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Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History

Fri, May 23, 2025

Join the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation for a panel discussion moderated by WGBH Classical’s Laura Carlo at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation as part of our special exhibition Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord History.

Harpsichordists and builders Henrik Broekman and Allan Winkler, and harpsichordist and BU Professor emeritus Mark Kroll will be discussing the legacy of Hubbard Harpsichords of Waltham. Speakers will also touch upon the manufacturing of these intricate instruments, and their role in reviving and popularizing early music.

Mill Talks

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Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
Waltham on the Charles: Canoeing Capital of the World in the Early 1900s

Wed, Mar 12, 2025

At the turn of the last century, Waltham was a hub of canoeing and canoe manufacturing at the intersection of athletics, recreation, and craftmanship. A new industrial working class developed in Waltham and surrounding areas as companies like Boston Manufacturing and Waltham Watch employed thousands of line workers. Along with industrialization, leisure activities gained popularity as these same workers looked to the river to relax, socialize, and have fun on the weekends. The weekend itself is a consequence of industrialization and the factory work week.

In Waltham, builders like HB Arnold, Waltham Canoe, and others were at work crafting, renting, and selling their canoes. Large boathouses, dancehalls, and canoe launches popped up all along the stretch of the Charles from Moody Street back up to Newton Upper Falls. Come, hear about the innovative canoe builders on the Charles and the new leisure working class they served.

Mill Talks

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Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
Mother Brook: The Evolution of Industry Along the Country’s Oldest Power Canal

Wed, Jul 23, 2025

Excavated between 1639 and 1641, the Mother Brook canal in Dedham is arguably the oldest power canal in North America. The waterway connects the Charles and the Neponset Rivers by way of an inland spring-fed brook. This created a fall of water that was strong enough to power the town’s first grist mill.

Join the Charles River Museum for a talk with Judy Neiswander who discusses industrial uses of the canal and East Dedham’s evolution into a powerhouse of textile production.

Mill Talks

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Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
Living the Harpsichord Life; Building and Breathing the Instrument

Wed, Jun 25, 2025

Join the Charles River Museum and Henrik Broekman for a curiosity-driven discussion of what it is like to pursue your bliss and fully immerse yourself in the world of harpsichords. Throughout his decades of experience in this industry, Hendrik has found himself constantly asked about the craftsmanship behind these exquisite instruments, how they are manufactured, and more. He will be answering these questions while sharing what it is like to build and create a career centered around harpsichords.

Henrik Broekman has been a pioneering craftsman, musician, and harpsichord builder for over 50 years. He worked with both Frank Hubbard and Eric Hertz, though most of his career was spent as Technical Director in the Hubbard Shop. He took over operations after the retirement of Diane Hubbard in 2000 and still plays, repairs, and builds harpsichords.

Initially scheduled in May.

Mill Talks

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Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
The Final Days of the Central Mass Branch

Wed, Jun 18, 2025

Once a famous through-route between Boston and Northampton, by the 1970s the Boston & Maine Railroad's Central Mass Branch had seen better days. Yet there was still activity to be seen and photographed, and important history to document. This presentation will provide a visual look into the final years of railroad operations on the Central Mass Branch west of Waltham; included are photographs, documents, and some film footage.

Rick Kfoury is a railroad historian and author with an express interest in New England railroading in the second half of the twentieth century. He has authored four books on the subject, The New England Southern Railroad Volumes I and II, Queen City Rails: Manchester's Railroads 1965-1990, and Steam Trains of Yesteryear: The Monadnock, Steamtown & Northern Story.

The Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization composed of people who want to share their knowledge, and learn more about, the history and operations of the Boston and Maine Railroad, its predecessors, and successors. The Society was founded in 1971 and consists of over 1,000 active members from the New England region and beyond.

Mill Talks

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Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation