Blackstone Valley Tourism Council: Travel, heritage, visitors, visitor center, lodging, dining, tours, Blackstone River National Heritage Corridor, National Parks, Industrial Revolution, historic sites, economic development in Rhode Island

Group Tours

An Historic Textile, Craft and Art Getaway

This exclusive two-day New England getaway package includes guided tours and hands-on workshops at three of the Valley's premier museums, a riverboat cruise and picnic, regional cuisine and an afternoon of specialty outlet shopping.

9am	Blackstone Valley Visitors Center - Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Start your getaway with a fresh cup of Starbucks coffee and homemade muffins at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center and the new Slater Mill Museum Store and Cafe. The store features jewelry, glass and textile items made by local artists. Your visit includes the award-winning film “Hidden the Blackstone Valley,” which describes how the early textile mills of the Valley led America into an industrial age that profoundly changed our way of life.
10am -- 12pm	Slater Mill Living History Museum
This venerable river front museum complex is reinventing itself with a new living history format to complement its traditional fiber arts demonstrations, exhibits of early textile machinery and two-ton waterwheel. During your specially designed visit you can talk with skilled museum interpreters as they go about their daily chores; cultivating authentic early 19th century textile, dye, herb and vegetable gardens, preparing meals over an open hearth and operating water-powered machinery. Following your tour of the museum, you will participate in a workshop demonstrating early 19th century linen, wool and cotton hand spinning and harness weaving by master spinners and weavers. In addition, you will examine 19th century French Canadian quilts from the museum's textile collection with the museum curator.
12 pm	Lunch on an American Heritage River
This walkable, picturesque, harborside village is a treat year-round. With an impressive collection of 18th century home built along tree-lined streets, distinctive shops and restaurants, Wickford is unpretentiously rich in history. Real people live and work here. You will want to return again and again. Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch and relaxing narrated riverboat cruise on the historic Blackstone River.
2 pm	A 19th century fashion show at the Willard Clock Museum, Grafton, Massachusetts
Founded in 1971, the Willard House and Clock Museum's collection includes over 80 Willard clocks. The earliest part of this lovely countryside museum was built in 1718 by Joseph Willard, grandfather of the Willard clockmakers. His grandsons began three-generations of making clocks in the house in 1766. The Willard brothers became the premier clockmakers in the 18th century. Following a tour of the museum, which includes Willard family furnishings and heirlooms, Colonial, Federal and Empire furniture and decorative arts, 18th century pewter and historic documents, a museum education specialist will discuss and display the museum's collection of 19th century women's clothing which have been in storage until recently. She will also give you a guided tour of the museum's period herb and flower gardens.
5 pm	Check into the Holiday Inn Express – Woonsocket, RI
Located in the heart of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, this two-year-old hotel features an indoor-pool and Jacuzzi, state-of-the-art-fitness center and an adjoining full-service restaurant resembling an old-fashioned diner.
7pm	Blackstone Valley Regional Cuisine and evening stroll
Dating back to the 1930s, its called chicken family style and its a hearty meal you'll find only in the Blackstone Valley. Tonight you will be dining at the Village Haven in Forestdale. Afterwards, you'll explore picturesque Slatersville, America's earliest mill village.
7:30 - 11 am	Deluxe Continental Breakfast at Holiday Inn Express Breakfast includes fresh fruit, juices, assorted pastries, muffin, bagels, assorted cereals, coffee and tea.
Founded in 1971, the Willard House and Clock Museum's collection includes over 80 Willard clocks. The earliest part of this lovely countryside museum was built in 1718 by Joseph Willard, grandfather of the Willard clockmakers. His grandsons began three-generations of making clocks in the house in 1766. The Willard brothers became the premier clockmakers in the 18th century. Following a tour of the museum, which includes Willard family furnishings and heirlooms, Colonial, Federal and Empire furniture and decorative arts, 18th century pewter and historic documents, a museum education specialist will discuss and display the museum's collection of 19th century women's clothing which have been in storage until recently. She will also give you a guided tour of the museum's period herb and flower gardens.
11 am - 1 pm	Images of textiles, women's clothes and accessories in 50 centuries of art.
Founded in 1896, the Worcester Museum of Art offers a world-class art collection in its 36 galleries. In this fresh and innovative approach to appreciating art, you will be examining art and art objects that feature an array of textiles, including samplers, quilts and embroidery, and women's clothing and accessories through the centuries. With the museum's unique web project called Bridges to Art, users can use this reference tool to locate on-line images in art that reflect a variety of themes, topics or ideas to create a tour at the museum specifically tailored to a group's interests or needs. The website is college.holycross.edu/bridges to art.
1pm	Lunch at the Museum Cafe
Enjoy lunch on your own at the museum with creative menu items and desserts prepared with artistic flair.
2pm	Return to the 21st century with an old-fashioned afternoon of shopping.
Practically everything is available at the Worcester Common Outlets. This premier tax-free indoor shopping outlet includes well-known retailers like Donna Karan, Off 5th - Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, Nautica, Geoffrey Beene, Bass Outlet, Bon Worth and London Fog among many others. For more information, special tour operator rates or to book a tour, please call Mary Harrington, Group Tour Manager at the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council at 401-724-2200. The $165 per person, tour price is based on groups of 37 or more and includes a step-on guide service, museum and workshop admissions, picnic lunch, overnight accommodations, dinner and administrative fee. The package cost is $45 less for double occupancy accommodations.

For more information or to book any of these tours, please contact Lilly Kayamba at the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council at (401) 724-2200.

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Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, On the banks of the Blackstone, 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860
1-800-454-BVTC (2882) Local: 401-724-2200 Fax: 401-724-1342 info@tourblackstone.com