"Providence-Pawtucket-Blackstone River... " a Pawtucket Travel Page by BeverlyTyler

Pawtucket, at the southern end of the Blackstone River Valley was the site chosen by Samuel Slater to built a cotton spinning mill.

The Blackstone's River constant and rapidly flowing water provided the mill with an inexaustable supply of power for Slater's machinery.

Samuel Slater began his career in the County of Derbyshire in the English Midlands in the factory of Richard Arkwright. Here he learned the process of spinning cotton into yarn. It was Arkwrights invention of the Cotton Spinning Water Frame," that began the Industrial Revolution in England in 1774.

Slater immigrated to Rhode Island, bringing his knowledge with him and with the help of Pawtucket artisans including Sylvanus Brown and David & Oziel Wilkinson he perfected a version of Arkwright's water frame. With the financial support of Providence investors and merchants, especially Moses Brown, Slater was able to produce and market the cotton yarn.

On December 20, 1790, Slater was finally successful in spinning cotton yarn and in doing so he launched the American Industrial Revolution and began the modern American factory system of production.

Providence began with visionary leader Roger Williams and grew into a successful City and state with the help of merchants such as Moses Brown.

The city is currently completing a rebirth of its downtown with emphasis on business, convention and tourism.

Providence Museums are expanding and gaining renewed interest with interactive displays and first-person narratives.