Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park celebrates the role of the region in the industrialization of America. Slater Mill, in Pawtucket, RI, was America's first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill. Slater's success spurred the development of a new industrial age, first across the Blackstone River Valley and then across the Nation. Today you can visit the park to explore the mill villages, waterways, and transportation systems that tell the story of America at work.