On National Park Service Centennial, A Look At One Of Nation's First Urban Parks With Rep. Tsongas

The Boott Cotton Mills in Lowell is a place where people can visit, tour and learn about Lowell's manufacturing past.

It's part of the Lowell National Historical Park, and part of the National Park Service. It was created in Lowell in 1978 and is one of the nation's first urban parks.

Thursday marks the centennial of the creation of the National Park Service, which manages places like Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore.

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, who represents Lowell, helps oversee the park service as a member of the House subcommittee for federal lands.

We met her outside the Boott Cotton Mills and asked her how an urban park fits the popular view of national parks as places of natural beauty.