40 Years, Two Cakes, Countless Memories

It was a weekend full of celebration as Lowell National Historical Park marked its 40th anniversary in grand fashion.

The festivities kicked off with a special 40 year reunion of LNHP staff, partners, and volunteers past and present at the Olympia’s Zorba Music Hall on Friday night.  The evening featured a light–and lighthearted–speaking program by Fred Faust, who helped author the original park legislation, and LNHP Superintendent Celeste Bernardo.  

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, whose husband Paul was instrumental in the establishment of the park in so many ways, also spoke.

On the date of the park’s anniversary, June 5th, Mayor William Samaras issued a proclamation celebrating the milestone.  Vice Chair Vesna Nuon read the proclamation to the reunion crowd.

The public celebration took place on Saturday and featured an entire days’ worth of offerings.  The morning began with the first Lowell Walk of the season, a 40 year look back at Lowell National Historical Park’s impact.

The tour concluded in the LNHP Visitor’s Center courtyard where a ceremonial cake cutting officially celebrated the Park’s 40th birthday.

The 41st year of Lowell National Historical Park is shaping up to be one of its best yet.  A full slate of summer offerings including trolley and boat tours will be soon complemented by an update to the Mogan Center immigration exhibit and an expansion of the Lowell River Walk. Recent successful collaborations with the Lowell Heritage Partnership and Waterways Vitality Initiative are in full swing.  Finally, the 32nd Annual Lowell Folk Festival will once again emanate from the park’s historic locales in just a few weeks’ time.