Friends of the Lawrence Heritage State Park

09/02/2026

Our thanks to Terry Date / The Eagle-Tribune for covering today's wonderful event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Lawrence Heritage State Park. Such a remarkable milestone and a wonderful testament to the importance of LHSP to Lawrence and to the generations of people who have worked to preserve, interpret, and bring its history to life.

LAWRENCE — Former Gov. Michael Dukakis, 92, sat in the front row – a seat of honor – at Lawrence Heritage State Park’s birthday party on Tuesday.

09/02/2026

Please join us tomorrow, September 2nd, from 12-1pm, for the LAST Bring-Your-Own-Lunch program of the summer, with DCR summer interpreter Rich Padova. Rich will discuss the history of Labor Day and present guests with one of his challenging quizzes. This is a great precursor to the upcoming Bread & Roses Festival on Labor Day, September 8th, which is being held this year at the Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitor Center. Light refreshments will be served.

08/29/2026

LAWRENCE — On Friday nights during the Feast of the Three Saints, some of the St. Alfio Society volunteers have over the years slipped away from the Italian festival on

08/27/2026

This is a reminder that in addition to the annual boat tours, the LHSP Visitor Center offers walking tours all year-round. Although DCR Summer Interpreter Rich Padova's summer season ends after Labor Day, Visitor Services Supervisor Becca Morris is always available to lead a walking tour. As September approaches and the weather cools, this is the ideal time to brush up on your Lawrence history or learn something new. The walking tours are subject to change, so it's best to call the Visitor Center ahead of time to check availability: 978-794-1655.

08/27/2026

Please join us for a celebration to remember for many years to come - at least until the 50th!

08/27/2026

Due to popular demand, LHSP's Merrimack River boat tours have been fully booked all summer. Next year, besides reminding you to sign up early for the Lawrence river tour, keep in mind that the National Park Service also offers weekly boat tours in Lowell. With historical narration provided by former LHSP park employee and current NPS ranger Richard Scott (who, by the way, will be joining us for LHSP's 40th anniversary celebration on September 1st), the boat cruises from Pawtucket Falls to the Tyngsborough Bridge. Unfortunately, the NPS tours also appear to be booked up for the rest of this season. But mark your calendars for next year. Here's their website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/lowe/planyourvisit/riverboat-tours.htm

08/26/2026

NEXT TUESDAY at 11:30 AM at the Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitor Center, 1 Jackson Street, Lawrence!

You’re Invited to our 40th Anniversary Celebration!
(Sept. 1st, 1986—Sept. 1st, 2026)

Celebration: Tuesday, Sept. 1st, 2026 at 11:30 AM

Join us along with special guests:

- Former Governor Michael Dukakis
- Former Mayor Kevin Sullivan

Both presided over the grand opening of Lawrence Heritage State Park 40 years ago!

* Brief speaking program, special displays and lunch courtesy of the Friends of Lawrence Heritage State Park

* Every visitor will receive a free gift!

* Trivia contest on the history of Lawrence Heritage State Park!

Free parking available in our visitor lot accessed from Mill Street, behind Lawrence Heritage.

Friends of the Lawrence Heritage State Park • Lawrence Partnership • Lawrence History Center • Lawrence Public Library • Rumbo Newspaper • Essex National Heritage Area • The Eagle-Tribune • Northern Essex Community College Alumni • James Beauchesne • Joe Bella • Essex Art Center • Greater Lawrence Community Boating Program Inc. • Groundwork Lawrence

Contact [email protected] with any questions

08/26/2026

Last week's "Bring Your Own Lunch" program at Lawrence Heritage State Park's Visitor Center featured DCR Summer Interpreter Rich Padova, who returned to celebrate President Bill Clinton's 80th birthday and review his presidency. Attendees first took a quiz, followed by a group discussion of the answers. Clinton served two terms, and though many of us remember him for the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Rich's quiz reminded us that he left office with a balanced budget and the highest approval rating of any modern-era president.

Today's penultimate "Bring Your Own Lunch" presentation, 12-1 pm, features local historian Tom Spitalere and his talk entitled "Socialism: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow." Light refreshments will be served.

08/24/2026

Congratulations to our very own Friends' board member Andrea EK Vannet, who WBZ's Channel 4 caught on camera. She, along with other volunteers, helped with the Good Dad Gang's backpack giveaway at the Lawrence Boys & Girls Club on Sunday. By the end of the day, kids in Lawrence had received over a thousand backpacks. Since 2014, Good Dad Gang has handed out over 10,000 backpacks during their annual "Back to School Bash."

08/23/2026

Our thanks to Terry Date / The Eagle-Tribune for this front page story about our 40th Anniversary Celebration of Lawrence Heritage State Park on September 1, 2026 at 11:30 AM at the LHSP Visitor Center, 1 Jackson Street, Lawrence! Join us!

https://www.eagletribune.com/news/merrimack_valley/lawrence-heritage-park-turns-40-still-telling-immigrant-city-s-story/article_b7090cbd-0696-48d6-a0fc-5582d9bc246c.html