Lawrence

Overview

The massive mill buildings lining the Merrimack River, the breath-taking Great Stone Dam, and the striking clock and bell towers are tributes to Lawrence’s industrial heritage. The harnessed strength of the Merrimack River and its system of canals fueled the Lawrence mills that produced textiles for the American and European markets. By the early twentieth century, with a population of nearly 95,000, the city was a world leader in the production of cotton and woolen textiles in massive mills.