“Lowell, USA, Canal System – Hunter 1848”

£24.00

High resolution digital image from our catalogue

Lowell, Massachusetts was incorporated in 1826 to serve as a mill town and was named after Francis Cabot Lowell, a local figure in the Industrial Revolution. The city became known as the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution, due to a large series of textile mills and factories. Many of the Lowell’s historic manufacturing sites were later preserved by the National Park Service to create Lowell National Historical Park. The Lowell Power Canal System is the largest power canal system in the United States, at 5.6 miles in length. The system’s estimated output is 10,000 horsepower, operating six major canals on two levels, controlled by numerous gates. The system was begun in the 1790s, beginning its life as a transportation canal called the Pawtucket Canal. By the late 1840s, Lowell’s canal system was producing as much power as possible. However, the Chief Engineer of Locks and Canals devised the Northern Canal and the Moody Street Feeder, to increase the capacity of, and availability of water to various parts of, the whole system. The Canal System and the Gatehouse were designated a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the ASCE in 1984 and a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the ASME in 1985 and are part of Lowell National Historical Park.