Topic

Lowell, Massachusetts, is an invented city. The brick textile factories, the network of canals, and the large population of workers were all new when it was built in the 1820s and 30s. It was the first large industrial city in the United States. The organizers of Lowell combined technical, social, and architectural innovations to solve the problems of creating such a high concentration of industry. This exhibit told the story of the city’s beginning, its reinvention after the textile mills closed, and its ongoing revitalization.

About this project

This project was created in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s Lemelson Center for Invention and Innovation and was part of a nation-wide initiative called “Places of Invention.” It was comprised of an oral history collection initiative, a video series, and an exhibit. I researched, wrote, and designed this exhibit and the accompanying video material in partnership with Lowell Telemedia Center and the American Textile History Museum.

The exhibition brought together archival material and oral history interviews. It invited visitors to contribute their own stories to the history of Lowell and to imagine the future of the city. The video series brought together narratives from the exhibit and community perspectives.