Established in 2007, the Museum of Work & Culture Preservation Foundation is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Its mission is to obtain private and public support to bolster the initiatives of the Museum of Work & Culture, a division of the Rhode Island Historical Society. The Foundation’s Board is composed of seventeen community-minded and dedicated individuals who share their time and resources with the Museum. In recent years, the Foundation has provided crucial support for the development and installation of cutting-edge digital exhibits, as well as many other projects. Today, the Foundation is working to grow its endowment so that it can help ensure the Museum’s position as an essential historical and cultural resource in the Blackstone Valley for years to come.
The Museum of Work & Culture, a division of the Rhode Island Historical Society, presents the compelling and touching story of immigrants who came to find a better life in the mill towns along the Blackstone River. Visitors recreate this journey, beginning their visit in a Quebecois farmhouse before making their way to the workday world of Woonsocket at the turn of the century. Visitors explore the lives of immigrants at home, work, and school through nine immersive exhibits. The Museum honors the sacrifices of these settlers, the meaning of their labor, and links this grand story of the past to the new immigrants who enrich the Blackstone River Valley.
Established in 2007, the Museum of Work & Culture Preservation Foundation’s mission is to obtain private and public support to bolster the initiatives of the Museum of Work & Culture, a division of the Rhode Island Historical Society. The Foundation’s Board is composed of seventeen community-minded and dedicated individuals who share their time and resources with the Museum. In recent years, the Foundation has provided crucial support for the development and installation of cutting-edge digital exhibits, as well as many other projects. Today, the Foundation is working to grow its endowment so that it can help ensure the Museum’s position as an essential historical and cultural resource in the Blackstone Valley for years to come.
The Museum of Work & Culture, a division of the Rhode Island Historical Society, presents the compelling and touching story of immigrants who came to find a better life in the mill towns along the Blackstone River. Visitors recreate this journey, beginning their visit in a Quebecois farmhouse before making their way to the workday world of Woonsocket at the turn of the century. Visitors explore the lives of immigrants at home, work, and school through nine immersive exhibits. The Museum honors the sacrifices of these settlers, the meaning of their labor, and links this grand story of the past to the new immigrants who enrich the Blackstone River Valley.
This exhibit fills a missing chapter of the Museum's story, starting with the Indigenous populations who live along the river's banks, to the current cleaning efforts of local citizens to restore the damage left by the industrial era. This exhibit answers the many questions about the river's relationship with our community, and how that connection has changed over time.
Discover All ProjectsStaying relevant and current with topics, technology, and presentation is important to maintaining the public’s engagement with the Museum, especially as digital entertainment venues increasingly compete for the public’s interest. The Foundation is dedicated to helping the Museum continue its effective education and outreach far into the future.
