Slater Mill

Built in 1793, by Samuel Slater, an immigrant from England, Slater Mill was the first successful water powered, cotton spinning mill in North America located on the banks of the Blackstone River at Pawtucket Village. It is generally considered the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in the United States.



It all starts with the water wheel so we will too. There is a system of dams and gates directing the water towards the wheel, but it takes a surprisingly small amount of water to get the thing moving. The wheel turns and rotates the shaft which provides the power for all the machines in the rooms above. Huge leather belts connect the various spinning gears and allow the operator to change the speeds and direction of the power.


The capabilities of the mill were pretty impressive. They could take a raw cotton bundle and process it all the way through to woven cloth. Below is a video of one of the most technically complicated weaving machines at the mill. It is designed to weave a narrow strip of ribbon with a decorative pattern. The pegged-boards control the movement of the harnesses which determine what color is showing at a particular point in the fabric.



Rhode Island was once the center of textile production in the US. Currently, only a few mills remain. The loss of industry combined with corruption has really hurt the state. It has the highest unemployment rate in the nation.