King Midas’s Curse – Revolution in the Air Winter Lecture Series

Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor present our Winter Lecture Series – “Revolution in the Air.” This six-part series investigates how the Blackstone River Valley has served as an incubator of revolutionary thought and change. Scholars and park staff will lead presentations on a variety of topics including labor reform, ethnic religion and politics, the cotton economy, and architecture.

Lecture #3: King Midas’s Curse

Speaker: Andrew Schnetzer, Park Ranger

Synopsis: In 1793, the beams and rafters of Slater Mill were assembled to make America’s first industrial building where cotton was delicately spun. That same year, the very first bricks of Monticello were being laid in a confirmation of America’s agrarian empire. Everything this two-headed beast touched turned to gold. Join Ranger Andy Schnetzer as he explores the architectural relationship between Slater Mill and Monticello.

Bio: Andrew Schnetzer is a Park Ranger at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Andy has worked for the National Park Service for more than 10 years. He started as a Wildlands Firefighter and then moved into the division of Interpretation and Education. He has worked for the National Parks of southeastern New England for the last 5 years.

To register for the Zoom link, click here: https://bit.ly/RevolutionInTheAir

To learn more about the Virtual Winter Lecture Series, visit: https://www.nps.gov/blrv/planyourvisit/revolution-in-the-air-winter-lecture-series.htm