charles river museum of industry and innovation

Brought my son and his friend there today and we enjoyed walking around the industrial buildings as we were searching to find the elusive entrance, and then looking at the machinery and watches. But this museum definitely needs more -- a few more examples of everything, and details of what one is looking at. I mean, you can figure out you're looking at a Linotype machine, but it would be hugely more interesting to learn something about them. There are an assortment of different small postings near some of the displays but not enough. Also, please know that the signage near the museum is misleading and can lead you far astray. Best thing to do: park in the lot off of Pine Street (to the left of the movie theatre) and then walk across the river on the pedestrian walkway. (Walk through the parking garage in the direction of the rivier. The museum entrance faces the river, but is quite a distance away from Moody Street, past a few of the buildings along a walkway along the river, to the right as your back is to Moody Street. It's a dear effort, and I don't want to discourage anyone from going because I feel this interesting museum needs support and it's fine for a relatively short visit.

From watches to machinery; this place is fantastic to learn about the early history of the Watch City. My wife and I were there for a fundraiser and were pleasantly surprised to see all the museum had to offer. We were also embarrassed that we never ventured to visit the museum despite living in the city.Young and old would find something to peak their interest and quench their intellect. We plan to go back because there is so much to see and so much to learn about the Watch City. Love the old stuff.

Didn't know anything about this place but did know waltham was home to the biggest manufacturer of watches. Found this place on groupon...great deal, i encourage you to look or more deals. Lots of industrial equipment from the past, early water wagon, industrial manufacturing equipment(machine shop tools, packaging devices). You can even rent out the space upstairs for private functions. The only downfalls were that we couldnt find the entrance at first and wish that the museum was a little larger, but worth checking out if you are into mechanical/industrial design & equipment.

As a researcher I enjoyed visiting this place. I learned a lot about the worthy time people had spent researching new innovations at a time when Google was not around people to google and copy things that easily

Its one of those treasure’s when you find it you realize wow why didn’t I know about this place. Simple kind of museums but very interesting for kids and adults. The experience is a time warp, great fun.

We had the privilege of attending a wedding here. The museum was a great hit for the reception because all the gentlemen loved looking at the machines. The museum people even ran some of the machines for us and my husband really enjoyed that. They also have a display of Waltham watches, an old time clock, and an antique fire engine. If you are interested in the old machine shop tools this is a must see for you.

My wife and I visited one afternoon and spent a couple of hours there. It's a really interesting place - a working museum. The museum director spent a lot of time with us and was extremely knowledgable. If you have an interest in how things were made back in tue day, this is the place to visit. theres interactive exhibits as well and they encourage hands on for the kids. Be sure to park at the Pine St garage. I think it was $1 for two hours. It was $5 to get in with AAA card.

The Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation is a hidden gem in downtown Waltham, MA. Although we initially had difficulty finding the building and locating the intended parking area, the effort was worth the work. The Museum is dedicated to the history of manufacturing in the Industrial Revolution with lots of interactive devices for children and adults. Park in the municipal garage and use the foot path across the river to access the site.

We parked in the municipal parking area behind the Embassy Theater and walked across the footbridge that took us to the other side of the river, watching for the mill smoke stack which is the entrance to the museum. There are benches and the grounds are very nicely kept. On a nice day it would be a lovely place to sit on one of the benches to linger, listening to the rushing water or watching one of the squirrels or rabbits scurry about.We entered and were greeted by one of the several volunteers working there at the time. He gave us a little information and overview on the history of the mill and Francis Cabot Lowell. For many things, it is a "hands on" museum. We found exhibits on bicycles (with wooden rims), steam and electric engines, printing presses, an old fire engine, a working machine shop, models of trains, and an exhibit on the second floor filled with watches, time pieces, etc. made in the Waltham Watch Co. There is a small exhibit of early calculators and slide rulers. There are other things as well as those I've mentioned. One of the treasures of the museum is their volunteers who have a wealth of knowledge and are willing to bring some of these pieces to life. They are dedicated and obviously love what they are doing.We spent almost two hours there, partly due to our informative chats with two of the volunteers. This museum and dining in one of the many restaurants close by combine to make a lovely outing.

The info about the industrial revolution era factories in Waltham was very interesting. Having the cocktail hour on the museum floor made for great fun for the entire wedding party.

This is a nice place for an inexpensive date idea and I love that there are plenty of places to eat afterwards. When my boyfriend and I went a few days ago they were renovating due to a water issue. The exhibits were interesting enough. We were out within an hour.

Interesting collection of industrial tools that you can see in action as well as a cool plasma art display

It's okay, not much to see, mostly the areas past, looms, car, watch collection, electicity display. The main mill turned into apartments. Brick firestack still standing. River runs by mill.

A real hands-on museum, merging history, engineering, and fun. Kids will love working the foot-powered player piano, the antique telephone switchboard, and the many engines, lathes, and other machines that really go when you push the button. Adults will appreciate the fascinating old tools and machines, the rich historical context, the gallery of clocks and watches (some faces painted in near-microscopic detail with single-hair brushes!) and the fantastic building itself, the old mill building that housed the first factory in the United States. Where else can you get up-close and personal with a real 19th-century steam fire engine, a power loom, a Model A Ford, and an example of the first machine for making flat-bottomed paper bags (invented and patented by a woman)?Although the museum is small, the setting is perfect for a longer outing: right on the bike path along the Charles River, next to the falls in the center of Waltham, with Moody Street's cornucopia of ethnic restaurants and great Back Pages Bookstore just steps away. Don't miss it!

I went to the museum for a private party. It was an absolutely fascinating collection of machinery, history and invention. The building is an old brick factory building. It had two Mergenthaler typesetting machines, a paperbag making machine and a caseful of Watham alarm clocks. Anything that was made in Waltham at one time or another, clothing, bicycles, watches is there. There was also a special exhibit of plasma machines- glass formed in various shapes filled with clear gases which when subjected to electricity light up like something in a mad scientists lab. This museum is great for everyone. I want to go back for one of the steam-punk events. Staff was also very good about answering questions, and they do operate some of the equipment if its a slow day.Please check their website for more info: www.crmi.orgSeveral important notes:The museum is not open every day, Thurs-Sun 10-4.The building has no elevator and there is a steep flight of stairs to the second floor, this area may be primarily used as function space. They claim to be wheelchair accessible, but arrangements need to be made to use an alternate to the front door.Very important (I rode around for half an hour before I found the lot): Parking is in a municipal garage on Pine Street, (Set your GPS to the official address: 19 Pine Street.) a right off of Moody Street if you are coming from Newton. Go past the Embassy movie theatre, past a private parking lot and take a left into the municipal lot. There is a paved, lighted walkway from the back of the garage to the Museum. Lots of great restaurants up and down Moody Street, for a snack, lunch or dinner of all ethnicities for before or after your visit. More on that another time..