Don't miss Doors Open XTRAs, special opportunities to enhance your Doors Open Lowell experience through special tours, demonstrations, and interactions with design professionals.  Doors Open XTRAs are free and no preregistration is required but attendance may be limited to a first come, first served basis.

The 2026 list of Doors Open XTRAs is a work in progress and will be listed below as they are confirmed.

THIS LISTING REPRESENTS THE DOORS OPEN LOWELL XTRAs AS OF MARCH 31, 2026.

Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances that the program is subject to change.

Saturday, May 9

Beyond the Mills: Discover Downtown Lowell’s Architectural Gems Walking Tour                                                          
Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center 246 Market Street 10 - 11:30 am Explore more of downtown with this lively 90‑minute walking tour showcasing the city’s stunning architecture and dynamic built environment beyond its iconic mill complexes. From civic landmarks to hidden design treasures and revitalized streetscapes, you’ll experience the downtown district as a vibrant blend of history, creativity, and community. 

St. Patrick Church
282 Suffolk Street
10:00 am, 11:00 am, Noon Come hear Parish organist Jeffrey Smith play the fully restored 1906 Jesse Woodberry pipe organ. The organ is believed to be the largest operable pipe organ in Lowell today and you’ll be welcome to visit the choir loft to see it up close.

10:30 am, 11:30am, 12:30 pm
Hidden in the steeple of St. Patrick Church are eleven bells, which together are known as a chime and one of only two chimes in Lowell. Come hear Parish chimers Robert “Bob” Feldman and Annmarie Pintal demonstrate the chime during three brief chime concerts.

Pollard Memorial Library                                                           
401 Merrimack Street
10:00 am - 4:00 pm Pick up your self-guided map at any of the library information desks and explore this Richardsonian Romanesque style library that still serves the community today.

Moody Street Feeder Gatehouse - Behind the Scenes: Meet the Architects
269 Merrimack Street
11:00 am - Noon Meet the preservation team behind the effort to rehabilitate and protect the historic Moody Street Feeder Gatehouse. Join Lowell National Historical Park Historical Architect David Michael Lieb, RA and specialists from the National Park Service’s Historic Architecture, Conservation, and Engineering Center to learn how they assess, repair, and safeguard this vital piece of the canal system. 

Collections Connections
Boott Cotton Mills Museum, Third Floor 115 John Street
1 – 4 pm
Meet Lowell National Historical Park curators and explore rarely seen objects from the museum collections related to Lowell’s commemorations and anniversaries. Bring your questions about caring for family photos and textiles as you learn how preservation experts protect the past for the future.

Tsongas Industrial History Center @ Lowell National Historical Park
Boott Cotton Mills Museum, Third Floor
115 John Street
1 – 4 pm Drop in for “Hands-On History” at the Tsongas Industrial History Center to celebrate their 35th anniversary and the Bicentennial of Lowell’s founding. Try hand weaving on looms. Test different types of water wheels and build your own model canal system to discover the innovative system that powered Lowell’s mills. 

Tremont Yard
1 Tremont Place
1 – 4 pm
Discover historic subterranean waterpower features with former Lowell National Historical Park Ranger Dave Redding.

History Meets Baseball at the Spalding House
383 Pawtucket Street
1 – 4 pm
With the return of the Lowell Spinners this spring, there’s no better time to celebrate America’s favorite pastime! Stop by and explore a fun mini-exhibit revealing what’s really inside a baseball—the answer might surprise you. We’ll also be giving away four free Spinners tickets. History, baseball, and fun for the whole family—step up to the plate and come see us!