Museum of Work & Culture

ABOUT THE MUSEUM

The Museum of Work & Culture presents the compelling story of immigrants who came to find a better life in the mill towns along the Blackstone River. Visitors recreate this journey, beginning in a Quebecois farmhouse before making their way to the workday world of Woonsocket at the turn of the century. Guests explore the lives of immigrants at home, work, and school through nine immersive exhibits.

REOPENING THE MUSEUM OF WORK & CULTURE

We are excited to once again welcome visitors and share Rhode Island’s history of resilience, ingenuity, and unity in the face of difficult circumstances, the same qualities that allow our community to persevere today.

We have worked diligently to ensure the safety of our guests and to meet all state required guidelines. With that in mind, the Museum is following all state guidance on cleaning, screening employees and visitors for COVID-19 symptoms, mask-wearing, social distancing, posting appropriate signage, group size limits, and all other mandated health and safety protocols as outlined in the State of Rhode Island latest guidance.

Museum Hours

The Museum will be open 10:00am-4:00pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Prior to your Visit

We encourage visitors to reserve tickets in advance of arriving at the Museum, though it is not required. Reservations are limited to 6 visitors per half hour in order to ensure a comfortable flow of guests through the Museum. If you wish to visit the Museum with more than six people, please contact us directly at mowc@rihs.org or 401-769-9675.

Please note: If you do not have a reservation, immediate admission to the Museum is not guaranteed at the time of your arrival.

COVID-19 Symptom Screening

Please be sure to review the Self-Screen Symptom list before your arrival. Upon entering, you will be asked if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID– 19. If you exhibit any symptoms, or have been exposed to anyone with symptoms, we will ask that you please visit the Museum at a later date.

Masks

In order to best protect our other visitors and staff, we do require all guests to wear masks while inside the Museum. Should you forget a mask, our team will be happy to provide a new, disposable mask for you to wear during your time in the Museum.

Social Distancing & Signage

We do ask that all guests maintain six feet of distance between themselves and guests who are not members of their party. All exhibits include signage noting how many visitors are able to occupy that space at a time. We thank you in advance for your adherence to those notices.

Clean Environment

The Museum team will clean shared surfaces, such as handrails and elevator buttons, more frequently. We thank you for your assistance in maintaining a clean space by making use of our hand sanitizer stations and washing your hands in our restrooms.

SCHOOL TOURS & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

The Museum offers free virtual tours for educational groups, including schools, homeschool families, and distance learners. Please see our School Tours page for details about our free virtual tours and educational programs. You can contact us directly with any questions at mowc@rihs.org

ONLINE GIFT SHOP

Our gift shop items are now available online by visiting shopmowc.com. Shop a selection of history books, locally made products, as well as children’s books and games. Visit shopmowc.com.