History of the River

At first glance, the Blackstone River seems completely ordinary. It is not very long or very wide. But along the banks of the Blackstone, the American Industrial Revolution was born, and the Blackstone became known as America’s “hardest working river.”

The Blackstone was formed about 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. A massive glacier slowly made a U-shaped valley with a flat bottom and steep walls. As it melted, the glacier became the first waters of the Blackstone River. 

National Park Service – Blackstone River Brochure

History of Operation ZAP