Life magazine once called the site of the Charles River Museum of Industry one of the most important places in American history. Considered by many to be the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, it was the first place in the United States where young women were employed as the primary work force. In addition, it was the site of the nation's first industrial labor strike, the first brick textile mill, and the home of the first power loom to be used in the U.S.

Tucked behind a scenic park in downtown Waltham, the Charles River Museum of Industry is, museum-wise, one of the area's hidden treasures. Too far from the center of Boston to be a major tourist site, but close enough to visit in an afternoon, the museum is a quiet, crowd-free alternative to Boston's main attractions.

A Proud History
The Charles River Museum of Industry is located in the former powerhouse of the Boston Manufacturing Company mill complex. The textile mill that opened its doors here in 1814 employed a troupe of young women, almost all of whom had come in from local farm towns to work and live in supervised company boarding houses. This practice of recruiting and housing farm girls soon became the model for Lowell, Massachusetts and other early New England textile centers.

Later in the 19th century, the nearby Waltham Watch Company helped pioneer mass production of goods with interchangeable parts which became an important standard of American industry as we know it. At the Watch Company, automatic machinery produced the earliest factory-made pocket watches, wrist watches, and clocks for personal ownership. As a result, Waltham came to be known for industrial innovation, and by the turn of the century, manufacturing centers were springing up all along the banks of the Charles River.

The Boston Manufacturing Company mill complex ceased operation in the late 1950s. Since then, the area has been designated a National Historic Landmark. The Charles River Museum continues to celebrate the ideals of technology and innovation that made the area famous.

What You Will See
The Charles River Museum of Industry is staffed by a group of friendly, knowledgeable volunteers who lead personalized tours. These personalized tours are great if you want to concentrate your tour on one part of the museum's collection; the guides are more than willing to show you exactly what you want to see and pass by the things that do not interest you. However, the requirement that you see the museum only via an escorted tour poses a problem if you have a very limited amount of time, since most tours last at least an hour.

The museum's collection begins with a series of American industrial inventions, including the player piano, the paper bag machine, the platen pearl press, punch clocks, and a machine that makes the copper tacks for blue jeans. The tour guides give demonstrations of all the machines, which are fascinating if slightly loud. Our favorite of these gadgets is the player piano, which has a cutaway front to expose all of its inner workings. Guides report that this part of the tour is always a huge success with children, who are eager to use the machines themselves.

The next step on the tour is a series of exhibits devoted to the history of the American factory. In addition to a display showing how work boots and lunch boxes have evolved through the years, there are portraits and pictures of the people and places that shaped the modern corporation.

Steam engines and vehicles fill the museum's main room. Anyone with a knowledge of engineering will be fascinated by this part of the tour, which focuses on the development of motors and engines. Some of the museum's pieces are especially noteworthy, such as one of Waltham's original steam-powered fire trucks, the large bell that once called all of the town to work, a 1904 Orient backboard car, and a 1924 Model T Ford.

The museum's top floor holds an expanding collection dedicated to the Waltham Watch Factory. This display of timepieces is impressive, although the exhibits are not of the same hands-on nature as the rest of the museum. Also on the top floor is an exhibit which focuses on recent technological developments, such as contemporary phone systems and the Internet.

The Best Time to Go
Although the Charles River Museum of Industry is generally not crowded, large school and community groups often arrange for tours of the museum, so call the museum in advance to find a time when no such gatherings have been scheduled. We also recommend a visit in the late morning or late afternoon, so that you can stop by one of Waltham's many restaurants after your trip to the museum.

Getting There
By car, take route 95/128 to exit 26 (Route 20). Follow Main Street to Waltham Center. Make a right on Moody Street; at this point, you will start to see signs for the museum. Stay on Moody Street, cross the river, and then make a left on Pine Street. Park in the municipal parking lot and follow the signs to the museum.

Both trains and buses stop at Waltham Common, located near the museum. By train, take the Fitchburg/Gardner line from North Station to Waltham Station. By bus, take the #370 express from downtown Boston (Federal and Franklin streets), the #70 from Central Square in Cambridge, any of #54, #56, or #58 buses from Newton Corner, or the #61 from Lexington Center.

Learn More
For hours, admission fees and other detailed information about the museum, visit their web site.

by Susan McWilliams

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