Register by April 1!
Begin your visit at the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, where we’ll explore the rich history of the textile industry in Lowell—the birthplace of America’s Industrial Revolution.
Next, we’ll head to the nearby New England Quilt Museum, showcasing the artistry, heritage, and cultural significance of quilt making, both past and present. Enjoy a guided tour featuring innovative works by prominent contemporary quilt artists, alongside beautifully preserved antique quilts that highlight key historical themes and craftsmanship.
After a boxed lunch, we’ll tour the Whistler House Museum of Art, the birthplace of renowned artist James McNeill Whistler (July 10, 1834 – July 17, 1903). From c. 1825 to 1866, the WHMA was home to many of the leaders of Lowell’s and America’s Industrial Revolution. From 1834-1837, James McNeill Whistler lived in this house with his father, George Washington Whistler and his mother, Anna McNeill Whistler—the subject of one of America’s most famous paintings, Whistler’s Mother (Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1). This elegantly restored Federal and Greek Revival-style home honors the legacy of American artists with international influence. All three floors of the museum feature period furnishings and work by notable late 19th- and early 20th-century American representational artists, including Whistler, John Singer Sargent and Arshile Gorky, with a particular focus on those from New England.
From 1839 to 1842, the Whistler family lived in a mansion in Springfield, Massachusetts, on the site where the Wood Museum of History now stands—adding another layer to this artist’s storied past.
Guide: Jeanne Fontaine
Wednesday, April 15
Depart: 8 am, return: 5:30 pm
Includes admissions, lunch, bus travel and driver tip.
Image: Time to Break Free, 2019 – Dominique Ehrmann, Quebec, Canada
