Lincoln in Providence County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
Water Turbine Runner
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 19, 2026
1. Water Turbine Runner Marker
Unfortunately the marker has weathered significantly.
Welcome to Rhode Island's Blackstone River Park and the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. To your right is a simple turbine runner. This device rotates within a turbine in a water slide through its blades.
Water Power & America's Industrial Revolution
The creative harnessing of the power of water drove America's Industrial Revolution. Skillful engineers transferred waterpower into mechanical energy using falling water to turn a waterwheel or turbine. A system of drive shafts and gears transferred the power of the waterwheel or turbine to overhead shafts on each floor of the mill powering the machinery.
These turbine runners and housing units were submerged, creating "flumes" or passages that allowed the water to flow from Mill Pont via the head race, thorugh the turbine to discharge into the tailrace below and return to the river below the dam.
A 23" diameter runner would produce between 58 and 80 horsepower with a 16 foot head of water. A 27" diameter runner would produce between 80 and 110 horsepower with a 16 foot head of water.
This energy powered the machinery that created
this page online
Erected by Rhode Island State Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 41° 56.393′ N, 71° 26.655′ W. Marker has been reported damaged. Marker is in Lincoln, Rhode Island, in Providence County. It can be reached from Providence Beltway (Interstate 295) east of Eddie Dowling Highway (Rhode Island Route 146), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3 I-295, Lincoln RI 02865, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Providence. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Gate Operator
Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 1, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
