by Joy Mosenfelder

Created on: December 16, 2008   Last Updated: January 22, 2012

Nestled at the junction of route 3 and interstate 495 about thirty minutes by car from either the city of Boston or the New Hampshire boarder Lowell, Massachusetts is in many ways perfectly placed for visitors eager to learn more about the region.  Like its sister city Lawrence, MA, Lowell is a byproduct of the industrial revolution.  The downtown skyline is dominated by long squat red brick behemoths, old textile mills some of which stretch on for more than a mile. The  intricate network of canals that provided the life’s blood for the old mill buildings are still fully functional; fed from the waters of the mighty Merrimack river where it drops a total of 32 feet before joining the Concord. 

Since its incorporation in 1823 as a planned manufacturing city Lowell has attracted and become home to a richly diverse array of immigrant communities.  To walk down the streets of Lowell is to hear the languages of the world, and smell the food of a dozen different cultures.  Greek, Iranian, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Italian, French, Brazilian, and more the restaurants of Lowell tell the story of the people who live here.  The city is home to the second largest population of Cambodians in the United States and their colorful culture can be observed in events like the Southeast Asian Water Festival in August, and in performances by the Angkor Dance Troupe throughout the year. 

In addition to the Southeast Asian Water Festival Lowell hosts Winterfest in early February, Doors Open Lowell where the interiors of the historic mill buildings are open to the public in May, African Festival in June, the three day long Lowell Folk Festival in July, and the Massachusetts Poetry Festival in October.  Visitors and residents can enjoy weekend concerts all summer long through the Summer Music Series, or check out an arena style show at the popular Tsongas arena.  The arena also hosts hockey games for University and local teams.

Lowell is home both the University of Massachusetts, Lowell renowned for its work in plastics, nanotechnology, robotics and engineering; and Middlesex Community College.  UMass Lowell has two main campuses in the city.  North Campus to the north of the Merrimack river on University Ave hosts science, mathematics, engineering and computer science; while south campus across the river hosts Music, Art, English and Humanities.  UMass Lowell is a four year University with master’s and doctoral

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