Evolution of a Millyard
The Boott Cotton Mills complex is one of the finest examples of mill architecture in the United States. The mill complex you see today resulted from many decades of expansion and adaption.
[Top left diagram]
1830s
Four mill buildings were constructed here between the Eastern Canal and Merrimack River in the late 1830s. The area around the mills was open because of the fear and danger of fire.
[Middle left diagram]
1840s-1860s
In the 1840s the introduction of sprinkler systems into the mills made their expansion possible. The original mills were then connected to make two larger buildings, and a fifth mill was added. Open space vanished.
[Bottom left diagram]
1870s to present
The widespread use of steam power after the Civil War led to another round of construction. Four more mills were added and the earlier buildings were expanded. Eventually as the millyard was completely enclosed views of river, city, and canals disappeared.
[Photo caption reads]
Workers in Boott mill yard, ca. 1880
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. 42° 38.86′ N, 71° 18.44′ W. Marker is in Lowell, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County. Marker is on John Street, 0.1 miles north of French Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is in the Boott Mills courtyard, near the entrance to the National Park Service's Bootts Mill Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 John Street, Lowell MA 01852, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Rule of the Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lowell Sculptures: One, Two, and Three (within shouting distance of this marker); In the Shadow of the Mills (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Florence Patti Marion (about 300 feet away); Harnessing Waterpower (about 300 feet away); W.H. Parker Building (about 700 feet away); The Birth of an Industrial City (about 700 feet away); Brown, Fay, and Watson Houses (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lowell.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 130 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 27, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
