Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation

Thank you, Charles River Museum, for hosting our wedding! The space was beautiful. Blingle Premier Lighting did the lights in the reception room and they had fair pricing and great customer service. Highly recommend them as well!

Fascinating. A piece of history none of us has ever been taught. Eye opening in that the manufacturing practices we associate with Henry Ford were in place a century earlier. Learning about the mill girls and the first work strikes was another plus. Absolutely recommend visiting.

Visited with my in-laws who are local to the area. Have been coming to Waltham for nearly a decade without realizing the people behind the street names and buildings. I'm experiencing it new with all this information. This place had a wonderful kids area my kids enjoyed as well. Well run and heavily involved in the community which was beautiful.

Fun visiting the museum and checking out the exhibits. But also- Amazing venue for private events, out wedding reception guests were blown away. The staff is exceptional and accommodating, and the spaces were so versatile. For sure a wedding venue that won't be forgotten

This local museum is tucked away in the Francis Cabot Lowell Mill next to Waltham Common and the Charles River (as its name suggests) and is a fascinating museum. Not only does it feature the history of the textile mills of Waltham, but how the Industrial Revolution expanded up to Lowell, MA, and shaped Massachusetts' past. There are additional items in the museum specifically related to Waltham, such as a horse-drawn fire truck, Metz electric cars, and bicycles, plus the synonymous Waltham Watches, which gives the city it's moniker of "Watch City" today. The true highlight of our trip was when Isiah demonstrated their four belt-driven machines. It was incredible to see them in operation and how they still functioned reasonably well for their age. The museum is easily reached by public transportation from Waltham Common and a short walk along the river. While there's no on-site parking, there are a couple of public lots in the area which are within walking distance of the museum. I highly recommend this museum to anyone who is interested in American history, mechanical items, transportation advances, or who possesses a general curiosity. There are also events hosted here, such as a battle bots competition, that we got to see a portion of during our visit.