Filtering by: REGISTRATION REQUIRED

MEMBERS EXCLUSIVE! The Making of Millpower: An Animated Series for the Charles River Museum
May
18
3:30 PM15:30

MEMBERS EXCLUSIVE! The Making of Millpower: An Animated Series for the Charles River Museum

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS


The Making of Millpower: An Animated Series for the Charles River Museum

Available and FREE to all active Museum Members, Individual and above.

Capacity is limited, RSVP Required


Wish to become a member and take advantage of the different benefits available at each of our six different levels?

Visit HERE for more information and to join!


Join us for a preview of a new series of short animations on the history of the Boston Manufacturing Company designed to educate and entertain audiences of all ages, with a particular focus on middle school students.

The research, design, and animation process will be explored, and the event will include a sneak preview of the short films before they are shared publicly.


Macy Lawrence is an animator based in Waltham, Massachusetts. She is currently an Art Director for Cengage/National Geographic Learning. In 2024 she will complete a master’s degree in Digital Media Studies from Harvard University's Extension School.

Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys learning about history and spending time on Cape Cod.

Macy Lawrence at work

View Event →
We Are Waltham: true stories from Waltham, MA
Apr
26
7:00 PM19:00

We Are Waltham: true stories from Waltham, MA

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

We Are Waltham: true stories from Waltham, MA

General Admission $15.00
Students & Seniors Admission $10.00

This show may not be suitable for young children.

Take the stage alongside Waltham resident and storyteller Chandreyee Lahiri to share your own story as a presenter, or join us as an audience member to learn about others’ journeys.

This program aims to build a stronger Waltham community. For those new to storytelling, Lahiri will offer guidance in crafting your presentation prior to the event.

STORIES: A cast of 6 tellers will share true 6-8 minute stories about memorable experiences in their lives. All live, work or have close ties to the city so will help bond the community together as we discover the similarities that run through our differences.

RAFFLE: The fun raffle for the Spring show will be some Rubik's cubes that feature prominently in some stories plus some tote bags with the show logo.wearewaltham.com

“One of the best ways to promote inclusivity and understanding is to know about each other,” says Lahiri. “Knowing your neighbors: what their stories are, what their journeys are so you can start dismantling stereotypes.”

Chandreyee Lahiri


'We are Waltham' is a storytelling show aimed at exploring the lives and experiences of residents of Waltham in order to entertain as well as help knit the community together. 

In keeping with the current standards of storytelling represented by popular shows like The Moth and Stories from the Stage, stories on this show will be true incidents from the lives of the tellers, told in their own authentic voices. In a world increasingly divided by ideology and suffering from Pandemic fallout, perhaps peeking into each others' realities might help us feel more like a community.  

The city is a unique melting pot of races, inclinations, ideologies and so rich with the histories of all these individual parts. Yet chasms exist between these sub-communities, as they must. Relating to an element of a story by someone who feels like an 'other', might help bridge this chasm if just partially. Likewise, understanding the intricacies of another culture or inclination, may make it harder to harbor hate or rage. At the very least, it promises to be entertaining.

Each show will attempt to have a cast of diverse tellers from many walks of life and stories will be their own but crafted with the help of a story telling coach. Hate speech will not be tolerated but an attempt will be made to accommodate all voices and perspectives. 

Its origins:

The show was conceived by Waltham resident Chandreyee Lahiri, a part-time writer and storyteller (chandreyeelahiri.com).

View Event →
SOLD OUT! Mill Talk: Travel 3D with the 19th Century TimeGuys
Feb
23
7:30 PM19:30

SOLD OUT! Mill Talk: Travel 3D with the 19th Century TimeGuys

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

RESISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS FULL!

Mill Talk:
Travel 3D with the 19th Century TimeGuys

presented by George L. Mutter, Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Bernard P. Fishman, Director, Maine State Museum, Augusta, ME

Magic glasses will be provided

Note: Due to the special nature of this 3D presentation, this Mill Talk will not be recorded or livestreamed. This is an in-person event only.

Warning:  This presentation is uncensored, showing imagery as it was prepared for and shown to audiences in the day.  Some content may be considered offensive to current sensibilities.  Viewer discretion is advised.


Explore the exciting and bizarre world of days gone by, with a thrilling 3D projection by the TimeGuys of photographs locked up for over a century.  No reconstructions, or AI generated fantasies here, just the realities of what hit the tabloids and made your great-grandfather smile and slap his leg! 

Explore natural and manmade disasters, meet superstars of the day, and see beauties of the moment. No internet or movies - no problem!  We have thrilling games of chance and risky amusements that have long been banned.  See the rise of machines when they were still made of wood and steel.  And enjoy the company of those whose times sizzled, including kids unencumbered by caution, adults on the make, and grizzled oldsters who have seen it all. 

Using special projection techniques, TimeGuys Bernard Fishman and George Mutter  are your hosts for this unique multi-dimensional tour.  

Magic glasses included.  

Warning:  This presentation is uncensored, showing imagery as it was prepared for and shown to audiences in the day.  Some content may be considered offensive to current sensibilities.  Viewer discretion is advised.


About Photoarchive3D:

George Mutter and Bernard Fishman have over five decades of combined experience searching for, and studying, historic stereophotographs. The prospect of bringing these to a broad audience through digitization launched what has become a fruitful collaboration. The result is a freshly digitized archive of approximately 30,000 original stereo images covering many subjects, most of which have not been seen by the public in the last century.  

George L. Mutter (left) and Bernard P. Fishman (right) of Photoarchive3D
Tintype by Richard Cyan-Jones, 2018, St.Andrews, Scotland.

George Mutter trained in medicine at Harvard and Columbia, and is currently a Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School.  He is a prolific scientist and educator, having authored over 120 scientific papers, and delivered numerous invited lectures internationally. 

Bernard Fishman is an Egyptologist trained at Columbia U. and U. of Pennsylvania.  He worked in Egypt with the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago before becoming a nonprofit institution administrator.  He is presently the Director of the Maine State Museum in Augusta, Maine.  


The Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

View Event →
Mill Talk: THE HIDDEN COSTS OF A GREENER FUTURE—Unearthing the Environmental Impact of Electrification, presented by Dr. Tomas Villalón
Feb
7
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: THE HIDDEN COSTS OF A GREENER FUTURE—Unearthing the Environmental Impact of Electrification, presented by Dr. Tomas Villalón

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Mill Talk: THE HIDDEN COSTS OF A GREENER FUTURE
Unearthing the Environmental Impact of Electrification, presented by Dr. Tomas Villalón

FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

This lecture will be recorded for later viewing on the WGBH Forum Network.

The sustainable future we are collectively building comes with significant environmental costs, primarily felt by the global south. The mining and processing of rare earth metals, nickel, cobalt, copper, and many other critical materials, essential for electrification and renewable technologies, often result in considerable ecological damage.

These activities can lead to deforestation, contamination of water sources, soil erosion, and the emission of harmful gases. Consequently, the health and safety of workers and local residents are compromised along with the environment. All of this stands in stark contrast to the overall goals of the green revolution, but currently represents an unavoidable aspect of progress.

Construction of a tailings storage area Goro Nickel Mine, Kwe West Bassin, New Caledonia,

Construction of a tailings storage area Goro Nickel Mine, Kwe West Bassin, New Caledonia, Photo: Barsamuphe, Creative commons license

We will explore how the mining and extraction of these materials, while essential for driving forward the clean energy revolution, often contradicts the principles of environmental stewardship. The lecture will particularly focus on the impact in the global south, where much of the world's mining and refining activities take place, often with less stringent environmental regulations and oversight. This raises critical questions about the true cost of our transition to renewable energy and electric mobility.

In response to these challenges, Dr. Tomas Villalón will share Phoenix Tailings’ transformative approach to mining and material processing. Our innovative strategies aim to revolutionize the industry by extracting rare earth metals and other crucial materials sustainably. He will discuss their cutting-edge techniques for minimizing ecological impact through rethinking the approach to material refining and the remediation of toxic waste. By turning a historically pollutive process into a more environmentally responsible one and cleaning up the toxic byproducts of mining operations, Phoenix Tailings is not only contributing to the cleaner production of electrification materials but also paving the way for a more equitable and truly sustainable future.


Dr. Tomas Villalón has dedicated his life to solving the issues of the mining and metals industry. He received his PhD Boston University, and BSc from MIT, going on to co-found Phoenix Tailings in 2019 with a mission of building the world’s first fully clean mining and metals production company. Tomas is an expert in the sustainable extraction of critical minerals from tailings and environmentally responsible rare earth refining.


Phoenix Tailings is the first exhibit in new exhibition series at the Charles River Museum called "Course Correctors" that confronts the more destructive aspects of industry's legacy, spotlighting companies that seek to mitigate damage that various industries have done to our world.


The Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

View Event →
Mill Talk: Community Engineering: Stories and Soaring to the Future
Feb
1
6:00 PM18:00

Mill Talk: Community Engineering: Stories and Soaring to the Future

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Mill Talk: Community Engineering: Stories and Soaring to the Future

An Evening with Engineers Without Borders USA

FREE to the Public
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Engage in a dynamic and lively conversation with the leaders and volunteers of Engineers Without Borders USA!

The Charles River Museum will host EWB-USA CEO Boris Martin, Former EWB-USA Board President Dr. Chris Lombardo, and EWB-USA volunteers from across the New England area for a happy hour social followed by a unique and forward-moving Mill Talk on community engineering. Expect to be regaled with stories of impact, engaged in reflection on engineers’ and educators’ calling, and moved toward action to build a better world.

Come for a happy hour social (with light appetizers and a cash bar) from 6-7 pm, and a dynamic and conversational Mill Talk with Dr. Boris Martin and Dr. Chris Lombardo from 7:15 to 8 pm.


Boris Martin
Boris believes that every engineer today can play a role in helping humanity heal and adapt to climate change, and that profound impact happens when engineers embrace their own acts of generosity as a journey of personal transformation.

Boris is the CEO of Engineers Without Borders USA. His personal commitment to building positive, respectful, and mutually accountable partnerships across the world mirrors EWB-USA’s long-term commitment to communities that have allowed the organization to understand the deep complexities and nuanced challenges that resilient infrastructure can address.

Perhaps above all, Boris is proud to contribute to EWB-USA’s global impact projects that provide reliable access to safe water, renewable energy, nutritious food, and improved economic opportunities for thousands of underserved communities across the USA and around the world. His commitment is to make EWB-USA a leading Community Engineering organization and a catalyst and partner for Community Engineering around the world.

Dr. Chris Lombardo
Dr. Lombardo is currently employed at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences as the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies and Lecturer in Electrical Engineering. His teaching focuses on electronics, engineering design, and the intersection of engineering and human centered design with a focus on low resource settings.

Dr. Lombardo began volunteering with EWB-USA in 2004 and has been an active volunteer ever since. He serves as the faculty advisor of the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences chapter of EWB-USA and has held numerous leadership roles both locally and nationally including the Curriculum Chair of the EWB-USA/ASCE Global Leadership Program, Faculty Leadership Committee, and is a former member and Past President of the EWB-USA Board of Directors.

View Event →
Mill Talk: How Dickens Helped Bring Christmas to Boston
Dec
12
7:00 PM19:00

Mill Talk: How Dickens Helped Bring Christmas to Boston

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Mill Talk:
How Dickens Helped Bring Christmas to Boston

This Mill talk is FREE and open to the public.

Readings and performances of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol have played an integral part in winter holiday festivities since longer than most of us can remember. What fewer people know, however, is that the British literary superstar and his popular novella actually helped bring Christmas back to Boston.

Accompanied by a beautiful slide show, Susan Wilson—the Official House Historian of the Parker House—traces the history of Christmas celebrations, which were discouraged and even banned in the Puritan stronghold of colonial Boston. Wilson explains how and why Christmas finally began to be embraced in the mid 19th century, and how Charles Dickens' arrival in 1867—when he made his home at the Parker House for 5 months—really added fuel to the yule log.

Susan Wilson with Dickens' great great grandson, Gerald Charles Dickens

Susan Wilson is a widely respected photographer, author, and public historian who has written and lectured about Boston history for the past three decades.

She is the official House Historian of the Omni Parker House, an Affiliate Scholar at Brandeis University’s Women’s Studies Research Center, and an Honorary Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Her most recent books are Heaven, By Hotel Standards: The History of the Omni Parker House (2019) and Women and Children First: The Trailblazing Life of Susan Dimock, M.D. (2023).


The Mill Talks at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation are free and open to the public and are made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

View Event →
We Are Waltham Storytelling
Sep
22
7:00 PM19:00

We Are Waltham Storytelling

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

We Are Waltham Storytelling

General Admission $10.00
Senior Admission (65 and over) $5.00

Take the stage alongside Waltham resident and storyteller Chandreyee Lahiri to share your own story as a presenter, or join us as an audience member to learn about others’ journeys.

“One of the best ways to promote inclusivity and understanding is to know about each other,” says Lahiri. “Knowing your neighbors: what their stories are, what their journeys are so you can start dismantling stereotypes.”

Chandreyee Lahiri

This program aims to build a stronger Waltham community. For those new to storytelling, Lahiri will offer guidance in crafting your presentation prior to the event.

Email Chandreyee at wearewaltham@gmail.com to pitch an idea for a story for a future show, maybe even this one!

About the show 'We are Waltham:

wearewaltham.com

'We are Waltham' is a storytelling show aimed at exploring the lives and experiences of residents of Waltham in order to entertain as well as help knit the community together. 

In keeping with the current standards of storytelling represented by popular shows like The Moth and Stories from the Stage, stories on this show will be true incidents from the lives of the tellers, told in their own authentic voices. In a world increasingly divided by ideology and suffering from Pandemic fallout, perhaps peeking into each others' realities might help us feel more like a community.  

The city is a unique melting pot of races, inclinations, ideologies and so rich with the histories of all these individual parts. Yet chasms exist between these sub-communities, as they must. Relating to an element of a story by someone who feels like an 'other', might help bridge this chasm if just partially. Likewise, understanding the intricacies of another culture or inclination, may make it harder to harbor hate or rage. At the very least, it promises to be entertaining.

Each show will attempt to have a cast of diverse tellers from many walks of life and stories will be their own but crafted with the help of a story telling coach. Hate speech will not be tolerated but an attempt will be made to accommodate all voices and perspectives. 

Its origins:

The show was conceived by Waltham resident Chandreyee Lahiri, a part-time writer and storyteller (chandreyeelahiri.com). It is brought to you by the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation and with the support of the Waltham Cultural Council. 

This event is supported by a grant from the Waltham Cultural Council.

View Event →
Drop-in Weaving!
Jul
29
10:00 AM10:00

Drop-in Weaving!

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Drop-in Weaving!

Try your hand at weaving!

FREE with Museum Admission!!

Come learn how to weave on a table loom with instruction from Beth Guertin of "A Place to Weave"

Beth will be set up in the main gallery from 10-12 so come before 12 and get a chance to try your hand at weaving!

All ages are welcome, come with your family and learn how to weave!

View Event →
SOLD OUT Design & Fly Your Own Drone! - DAY TWO
Jul
14
1:30 PM13:30

SOLD OUT Design & Fly Your Own Drone! - DAY TWO

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Design & Fly Your Own Drone!

THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT!

TWO DAY WORKSHOP

Dates: July 13 (1:30-4:30) and July 14 (1:30-5:00)
Participants should plan to be at both sessions.

Participants: 6 max. Ages 14-18
Previous drone flying and 3d printing experience is useful but not required.

Cost: $50 (includes drone kit and Museum admission)

Sign up today for two afternoons of learning how to fly and design racing drones from some of the best in the business. At the end of this workshop, experienced and novice pilots alike will have honed their flying skills and used cutting-edge equipment to make design changes to customize their drones.

The sessions will take place in the iconic Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation and will be taught by Brandeis MakerLab leaders, drone racers themselves. You will not only be immersed in the Museum’s cool exhibits, but also get to experience its cutting-edge Collaboratory.

QUESTIONS? email: katherine.sorrows@charlesrivermuseum.org

View Event →
SOLD OUT Design & Fly Your Own Drone! - DAY ONE
Jul
13
1:30 PM13:30

SOLD OUT Design & Fly Your Own Drone! - DAY ONE

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Design & Fly Your Own Drone!

THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT!

TWO DAY WORKSHOP


Dates: July 13 (1:30-4:30) and July 14 (1:30-5:00)
Participants should plan to be at both sessions.

Participants: 6 max. Ages 14-18
Previous drone flying and 3d printing experience is useful but not required.

Cost: $50 (includes drone kit and Museum admission)

Sign up today for two afternoons of learning how to fly and design racing drones from some of the best in the business. At the end of this workshop, experienced and novice pilots alike will have honed their flying skills and used cutting-edge equipment to make design changes to customize their drones.

The sessions will take place in the iconic Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation and will be taught by Brandeis MakerLab leaders, drone racers themselves. You will not only be immersed in the Museum’s cool exhibits, but also get to experience its cutting-edge Collaboratory.

QUESTIONS? email: katherine.sorrows@charlesrivermuseum.org

View Event →
SALT, SILVER, and SUNBEAMS : Exploring the Timeless Art of Wet Plate Collodion Tintype Photography
May
12
7:00 PM19:00

SALT, SILVER, and SUNBEAMS : Exploring the Timeless Art of Wet Plate Collodion Tintype Photography

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

SALT, SILVER, and SUNBEAMS
Exploring the Timeless Art of Wet Plate Collodion Tintype Photography

presented by Daniel Leocadi
danielleocadi.com

This Tech talk is FREE and open to the public
Space is limited, REGISTRATION REQUIRED

In this talk, we'll take a deep dive into the world of the Wet Plate Collodion Tintype process from the 1850’s. To make this talk even more engaging, we will also be including a live demonstration of the Wet Plate Collodion Tintype process. So get ready to witness this fascinating process in action!

We will examine the equipment, materials and chemistry involved in the process, as well as the techniques used to prepare, expose, and develop tintypes. We will also explore Daniel Leocadi’s journey using this photographic medium from capturing North American landscapes to operating a modern day tintype portrait studio.

Join us for a fascinating talk in the exploration of the ancient and modern in the world of Wet Plate Tintype Collodion photography.

Note: This Talk will be recorded for sharing on the Museum’s YouTube channel at a later date


Daniel Leocadi

Daniel Leocadi is a photographer who specializes in creating unique portraits and landscape works using historical alternative photographic processes from the 1800s. He has dedicated the past decade to mastering these techniques, studying under notable experts such as Mark and France Osterman, as well as John Coffer. Leocadi's preferred method is wet plate collodion photography, a process discovered in the 1850s by Frederick Scott Archer in the UK, which uses silver and light to create images on glass or metal, also known as the Tintype. This process requires the material to stay wet throughout the process, and can take up to fifteen minutes to produce a single photograph.

 Leocadi perceives the labor-intensive process of wet plate collodion photography as a lesson in patience, convinced that the effort required to create each image by hand ensures thoughtful consideration for every photograph. With the conviction that less is more, he believes that photographs created using these traditional techniques are more valuable than the countless digital images stored on our devices.

By learning this method, Leocadi has developed a new level of persistence and perseverance. Each wet plate collodion tintype is a unique creation that cannot be precisely duplicated, owing to the analog rules and changing environment involved in the process. The resulting images possess an ethereal and surreal quality that modern technology cannot replicate.

Leocadi is fascinated by the authenticity of these photographs, which capture people and their surroundings in an unchangeable way. For him, the wet plate collodion process serves as a reminder of the value of human ingenuity and perseverance, not just in photography, but in all aspects of life.

He is concerned that our current obsession with instant gratification, fast alternatives, perfection, and artificial intelligence may lead us to overlook the significance of true artisanship and, consequently, our own humanity.


Made possible with support from the Lowell Institute
and a grant from the Waltham Cultural Council

View Event →
SOLD OUT We Are Waltham Storytelling
Apr
28
7:00 PM19:00

SOLD OUT We Are Waltham Storytelling

  • Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

SOLD OUT We Are Waltham Storytelling

Take the stage alongside Waltham resident and storyteller Chandreyee Lahiri to share your own story as a presenter, or join us as an audience member to learn about others’ journeys.

“One of the best ways to promote inclusivity and understanding is to know about each other,” says Lahiri. “Knowing your neighbors: what their stories are, what their journeys are so you can start dismantling stereotypes.”

Chandreyee Lahiri

This program aims to build a stronger Waltham community. For those new to storytelling, Lahiri will offer guidance in crafting your presentation prior to the event.

Email Chandreyee at wearewaltham@gmail.com to pitch an idea for a story for a future show, maybe even this one!

About the show 'We are Waltham:

wearewaltham.com

'We are Waltham' is a storytelling show aimed at exploring the lives and experiences of residents of Waltham in order to entertain as well as help knit the community together. 

In keeping with the current standards of storytelling represented by popular shows like The Moth and Stories from the Stage, stories on this show will be true incidents from the lives of the tellers, told in their own authentic voices. In a world increasingly divided by ideology and suffering from Pandemic fallout, perhaps peeking into each others' realities might help us feel more like a community.  

The city is a unique melting pot of races, inclinations, ideologies and so rich with the histories of all these individual parts. Yet chasms exist between these sub-communities, as they must. Relating to an element of a story by someone who feels like an 'other', might help bridge this chasm if just partially. Likewise, understanding the intricacies of another culture or inclination, may make it harder to harbor hate or rage. At the very least, it promises to be entertaining.

Each show will attempt to have a cast of diverse tellers from many walks of life and stories will be their own but crafted with the help of a story telling coach. Hate speech will not be tolerated but an attempt will be made to accommodate all voices and perspectives. 

Its origins:

The show was conceived by Waltham resident Chandreyee Lahiri, a part-time writer and storyteller (chandreyeelahiri.com). It is brought to you by the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation and with the support of the Waltham Cultural Council. 

This event is supported by a grant from the Waltham Cultural Council.

View Event →