Flowing Through Time

As we leave rural Canada and the farmhouse behind, we journey to a new landscape: the Blackstone River Valley, home to the American industrial revolution and cities like Woonsocket, Pawtucket, and Providence. But the Québécois immigrants weren’t the first people to make their homes in the region: in fact, the Blackstone Valley Region has been occupied for thousands of years by the sovereign Narragansett and Nipmuc Indigenous nations. 

This new digital exhibit focuses on the water power that made textile mills possible, the communities that have lived with and been impacted by the river, and the long-term ecological impact the industrial era has had on the water and wildlife. Its main themes are nature, industry, and communities.

Operating Steps

Go to the smaller touchscreen at the left side of the wall and either take your photo or pick an avatar to go in your boat. 

Pick a theme: nature (green), industry (yellow), or communities (orange), which determines the color of your boat. Then hit the start button!

You have now entered “A River in Balance,” in which the people who lived on the land worked in harmony with its gifts and maintained a healthy ecosystem. First press the play icon on the bottom of the screen. That will bring up the animation for this time period, which demonstrates a fish weir being used by a Nipmuc community.

Hit the icons to the left and right of the play icon to bring up more facts. When you feel like you’re done, hit the icon on the bottom right of the screen to advance.

Your boat will now enter “A River in Conflict,” which presents information about colonization of this area by settlers. It also details how Indigenous nations and settlers initially worked together, then differed over how best to use the land. The play icon at the bottom of the screen brings up an animation showing the Three Sisters (beans, corn, and squash) and how they grow together in harmony.

Hit the icons to the left and right of the play icon to bring up more facts. When you feel like you’re done, hit the icon on the bottom right of the screen to advance.

Your boat will now enter “Harnessing the River,” which presents information about the industrial revolution: the changes to work and industry, the rise of immigration and wage labor, and the impact of factories and mills on the landscape. The play icon brings up an animation showing how the river activates a water wheel, which in turn powers a factory.

Hit the icons to the left and right of the play icon to bring up more facts. When you feel like you’re done, hit the icon on the bottom right of the screen to advance.

Your boat will now enter “Flowing Forward.” Depending on whether you chose nature, industry, or communities, the silent animation will present a different aspect of ZAP the Blackstone, and so each video clip will be slightly different.