Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park

The Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park is a part of the State Park system of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. ] This need gave way to an inland waterway, the Blackstone Canal(1828).cite web |title= History of the Canal, The Blackstone Canal: A Brief Overview of Its Historical Significance |publisher= Worcester Historical Museum |url= http://www.worcesterhistory.org/bcinfo/bcinfo-home.html |accessdate= 2007-09-23] Providence, the closest port. The canal was built by imported Irish laborers, who worked on the Erie Canal, and settled here. It was completed in 1828. The canal was a simple ditch alongside the Blackstone River with a dirt tow path for boats to be pulled by horses. A granite lock stands at Goat Hill and Uxbridge was the overnight stopping point. The canal connected inland Worcester, mills on the Blackstone, and Providence where thousands of tons of textiles could be exported all over the world. But, by 1832, the Boston and Worcester Railroad began to carry freight to Boston and the role for the canal diminished.cite web |title= History of the Canal, The Blackstone Canal: A Brief Overview of Its Historical Significance |publisher= Worcester Historical Museum |url= http://www.worcesterhistory.org/bcinfo/bcinfo-home.html |accessdate= 2007-09-23}] In 1847, the Providence and Worcester Railroad opened and completely replaced the canal for transportation. The transformation of transportation from horse drawn teams, to canal barges, to railroads was complete.

Features

There are interpretive serivices at the Park.There are trails that recreate the trails that the Nipmuc, the Native American people of central Massachusetts, used. The River Bend Farm Visitor Center provides a convenient gateway to canoing, fishing, trails, and snowmobiling or cross country skiing access. National Park Service rangers explain the local history at the River Bend Farm Visitors Center. Nearby Goat Hill provides scenic views and views of remnants of the canal locks and towpaths which can be found here.

Nearby attractions

The area includes Rice City and Goat Hill. There is an abundance of wildlife available for viewing in this Park. The State Park works closely in conjunction with the nearby National Park Service. The State Park is located near a wildlife preserve and recreation area at West Hill Dam, which is run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

References

ee also

*Uxbridge, Massachusetts
*Blackstone Valley
*West Hill Dam

External links

* [http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/blst.htm Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park]
* [http://www.nps.gov/blac Official NPS site]
* [http://www.nps.gov/blac/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm Legislative History of National Corridor]
* [http://www.nps.gov/blac/institute/index.html Blackstone Valley Institute] (planning resources)
* [http://www.corridorkeepers.org/ Blackstone River Valley Corridor Keepers] (preservation group)
* [http://www.worcesterhistory.org/ex_blackstone.html Highway of Commerce: The Blackstone Canal] , Worcester Historical Museum, 2005
* [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.ri0099 Historic American Building Survey]