Lowell Trolley (photo by Tim Carter)

A free trolley bus runs between the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, Boott Cotton Mills Museum, and Suffolk Mill whenever these facilities are open. It typically operates seasonally on Thursdays through Mondays from 10:45 AM to 4:15 PM. Keep in mind that there can be anywhere from a half hour to an hour between departures, whereas it only takes ten minutes to walk between these locations. For those in wheelchairs, three of the trolleys can accommodate a single wheelchair. Those who have trouble walking can use the trolley but still must climb up two high steps (there is a handrail).

The trolley was an integral part of Lowell until automobiles came along, and in 1935 the system was shut down. When Lowell National Historical Park was established in 1978, plans were made to reopen a portion of the trolley route, and the first trolley began operating in 1984. Talk of expansion was on the table all the way until recent times, but the idea was ultimately abandoned because the current Lowell city bus system serves commuters just fine. While the trolley would certainly be nostalgic, expansion simply isn’t economically feasible.

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