The Lowell Experiment: Public History in a Postindustrial City

More about the book

Set in early nineteenth-century Lowell, Massachusetts, the book delves into the city's transformation from a model of industrial success to one grappling with deindustrialization. It examines the pivotal role of Lowell National Historical Park, established in 1978, in reshaping narratives around labor, immigration, and women's history. By adopting an anthropological lens, it highlights how public historians navigate their dual roles in economic redevelopment and cultural memory, raising critical questions about the challenges faced by scholars in a changing socio-economic landscape.