In a first, Lowell National Park to have ties with Smithsonian
By CHRISTOPHER SCOTT
Sun Staff
WASHINGTON The Lowell National Historical Park is
about to become the first national park in the country
to affiliate with the Smithsonian Institution one of the
most respected and renowned museums in the
world.
The affiliation means the Lowell park will share
resources, expertise and exhibits with the
Smithsonian, the world's largest and most-visited
museum complex.
The affiliation was announced yesterday by Patrick
McCrary, Lowell National Historical Park
superintendent, during U.S. Rep. Martin Meehan's
annual legislative seminar in Washington. McCrary
and Deputy Park Superintendent Peter Aucella held
meetings with Smithsonian officials on Monday.
Although top Smithsonian officials have yet to sign off
on the affiliation, it's all but a done deal, McCrary and
Aucella said. Final approval is expected within weeks.
"This is just a terrific opportunity for the Lowell park,"
McCrary said. "I can't tell you what this means to all
of us and how happy we are."
Details are still being worked out, but McCrary and
Aucella envision the Smithsonian and Lowell park
sharing exhibits, ideas and personnel.
"Something like this, with an institution as respected
as the Smithsonian, is extremely significant," said
Meehan. "Plus, it has all sorts of potential.
"I also think it illustrates that the Lowell National
Historical Park is held in high regard down here, and
is considered a crown jewel in the national park
system of nearly 400 parks and other properties,"
said Meehan.
According to Aucella, Smithsonian staffers invited
Lowell park officials to apply when they heard about
the park's effort to expand its trolley network and
open a trolley museum in conjunction with the
Maine-based Seashore Trolley Museum.
The national park operates three trolleys on about
1.5 miles of track in downtown Lowell. McCrary and
Aucella hope someday the trolley can better serve
the Tsongas Arena and LeLacheur Park. There's also
been talk of constructing a trolley line along the
south bank of the Merrimack River, then up the east
bank of the Concord River to the Lowell Memorial
Auditorium.
The Smithsonian also has an interest in trolleys; the
institution's National Building Museum is running a
trolley exhibit titled "On Track."
Affiliations mean that the Smithsonian Institution,
which welcomed 29 million visitors in 2001, can more
broadly share its artifacts, programs and expertise,
and will put the Lowell park on a more national
stage, officials said.
Christopher Scott's e-mail address is
cscott@lowellsun.com .
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This story ran in The Lowell Sun on 5/22/02.
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