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The official Doors Open Lowell program guide will appear in the Wednesday May 14, 2014 edition of the Lowell Sun and that it will also be available at the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center at Market Mills, 246 Market Street.

Buildings will be open Friday, May 16 from 6-9pm and Saturday, May 17 from 10am-1pm & 1pm-4pm. 

NOTE: that all buildings will not be open at all times with different buildings open during each of the Friday and Saturday time periods.

Click HERE to view the 2014 building map.

Friday, May 16                                  

6 to 9 p.m.

1.  Whistler House Museum of Art   

243 Worthen Street

Originally built for the Lowell Machine Shop’s agent, this Federal/Greek Revival building (ca. 1825) is best known as the birthplace of artist James McNeil Whistler.  Acquired by the Lowell Art Association in 1908 and now known as the home of the Whistler House Museum of Art, the building has undergone extensive energy efficiency upgrades as part of the City of Lowell’s Better Buildings Program. 

2.  Gates Block   

307 Market Street

The Victorian brick Gates Block (1881) originally housed a leather goods manufacturer and has recently undergone rehabilitation.  Discover the building’s rebirth as an arts center that is now home to the Arts League of Lowell, Van Gogh’s Gear Art Supplies, and artist work studios.

3.  Lowell Gas Light Company Building                  

22 Shattuck Street

This elegant Italianate style building (1859) originally housed the offices of the Lowell Gas Light Company and is now the home of the law firm of Gallagher and Cavanaugh.  Doors Open XTRA

4.  Debbe Daley Designs  *New in 2014* 

189 Market Street

The Italianate style J.C. Ayer Company Laboratory (1858) has been converted into residential lofts, gallery, and retail space.  Visit Debbe Daley Designs, an interior design center, where new furniture meets old with upholstered furniture mixed with antique, salvage and restored finds and home accessories.

5.  Trio                                                                       

30 Market Street

The Hamilton Manufacturing Co. was incorporated in 1825, the second of Lowell’s original ten large textile corporations.  See how their Italianate style former dye house (1883) has been redeveloped for residential use and visit one of the unit’s roof decks.

6.  UTEC  *New in 2014* 

34 Hurd Street

Visit the Greek Revival style former St. Paul’s Church (1839), the oldest LEED Platinum certified green building in the world, to see how it has been transformed for use by the United Teen Equality Center (UTEC).

7.  Fairburn Building                                      

10 Kearney Square

The Victorian Fairburn Building (ca. 1892) has been converted into residential lofts as well as rehabilitated commercial space.  Visit a unit containing one of the foremost private collections of Lowell patent medicine memorabilia.

Saturday, May 17                              

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

8.  Varnum School  *New in 2014* 

103 Sixth Street

Built in three stages (1857, 1886, 1897), this Greek and Classical Revival structure was the first school constructed in the Centralville neighborhood after its annexation from Dracut in 1851.  See how this former school is being converted into housing in this behind-the-scenes construction viewing.

9.  Centralville United Methodist Church                 

800 Bridge Street

The Centralville United Methodist Church (1891) serves the same use today over 120 years later.  Discover this Victorian Gothic structure including its rich collection of stained glass windows.

10.  Lowell Gallery                                                    

14 Jackson Street

Visit the Lowell Gallery in the Greek Revival style J.C. Ayer Building (1852) which was an early home of Ayer’s patent medicine company.  NOTE:  Site is open from 10 am to 4 pm.

11.  Loft 27                                                                

27 Jackson Street

The Hamilton Manufacturing Co. was incorporated in 1825, the second of Lowell’s original ten large textile corporations.  Today known as Loft 27, see how Mill No. 7 (1911-1919) has been converted into residential use by the Winn Companies.

12.  Lowell Community Health Center                     

161 Jackson Street

See how portions of the Italianate style Mill No. 6 (1881) in the Hamilton millyard has been rehabilitated for the Lowell Community Health Center.

13.  Appleton Mills                                                    

219 Jackson Street

Mills No. 1, 1A, and 4 (1902-1914) were among the last built in the Appleton millyard.  See how they have been rehabilitated by Trinity Financial for use as artist live-work residences including a soaring interior atrium. 

14.  Lowell Telecommunications Corporation

246 Market Street

Browse Lowell Telecommunications’ facilities in this mill originally built by the Lowell Manufacturing Company (1902) to house weaving operations, today known as the Market Mills Complex.

15.  National Streetcar Museum

25 Shattuck Street

The Queen Anne style Mack Building (1886) was originally home to W.A. Mack and Company, a manufacturer and dealer in cast iron stoves, architectural elements, fences, and other metal products.   Browse exhibits about the influence of street railways on the development of our cities at the National Streetcar Museum.   NOTE:  Site is open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

16.  Pollard Memorial Library                        

401 Merrimack Street

See the restored Richardsonian Romanesque Pollard Memorial Library (1893) and discover how the building has been successfully rehabilitated to continue in use as Lowell’s library.  Doors Open XTRA

Saturday, May 17 

1 – 4 p.m.

17.  Mill No. 5  *New in 2014*                        

250 Jackson Street

See how the Italianate style Mill No. 5 (1873) in the Appleton millyard has been redeveloped into an exciting and innovative blend of tech start-ups, artists, and independent retail.  The interior of the mill is composed of salvaged historic buildings from throughout New England, arranged as an interior streetscape.  NOTE:  Site is open from noon to 4 pm.

18.  Apartments at Boott Mills East                          

141 John Street

The Boott millyard is one of the most historic and architecturally significant millyards in the United States, having been constructed in phases between 1835 and the early 20th century.  See how the former mill space has been transformed for residential use by the Winn Companies.

19.  Apartments at Boott Mills West   

130 John Street

Discover the latest sections of the Boott millyard to be rehabilitated for residential and office use by the Winn Companies including a dramatic interior courtyard space for use by residents and commercial tenants.

20.  Tremont Yard                                                     

1 Tremont Place

Located beneath the home of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, discover exposed historic subterranean waterpower features that were the site of pioneering turbine experiments undertaken by famed engineer James B. Francis in 1855. Doors Open XTRA

21.  Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church           

25 Fr. John Sarantos Way 

Visit the Byzantine-style Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church (1956-1964) and discover its rich ornamentation including imported ceiling mosaics from Italy, iconography, and stained glass.

22.  Franco-American School                        

357 Pawtucket Street

Originally a private residence, the former Frederick Ayer mansion (1876) is one of the most ornate buildings in Lowell.  Tour this Second Empire style masterpiece that is now home to the Franco-American School.

23.  Spalding House                                                                                                   

383 Pawtucket Street

The Georgian style Spalding House (1761) is the third oldest surviving house in Lowell.  Learn about its early history, connection to Pawtucket Falls, and the Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust’s efforts to preserve the house for future generations.  Doors Open XTRA

24.  Northern Canal Gatekeeper’s House  *New in 2014* 

23 School Street

This wood-frame Greek Revival/Italianate house (1847) was built by the Locks and Canals Company as a residence for the gatekeeper of the adjacent Pawtucket Gatehouse.  Learn more about efforts to preserve it through the Commonwealth’s Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Historic Curatorship Program.  Doors Open XTRA

25.  Pawtucket Gatehouse

School Street @ Northern Canal

This gatehouse (1847) is the largest on the Lowell canal system, still controls the flow of water into the Northern Canal, and contains much of its original equipment. 

26.  Pawtucket Congregational Church                     

15 Mammoth Road

Tour the Romanesque Revival style Pawtucket Congregational Church (1898) to learn more about their ongoing restoration efforts and 1812 Revere bell.

*webpage updated 5/5/14*