Blackstone Valley from King Phillip's Rock near Uxbridge, MA.

Blackstone Valley from King Phillip’s Rock near Uxbridge, MA.

The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor — which includes the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution — may soon be named a multi-site national park, according to an article on ProvidenceJournal.com.

Congress plans to vote on the designation within the National Defense Authorization Act by next week, lead sponsor U.S. Sen. Jack Reed announced Wednesday. A corresponding bill was submitted by U.S. Rep. David Cicilline. President Obama’s subsequent signature would make it official.

The two-state corridor spans 24 communities from Providence to Worcester, and includes Old Slater Mill, which is heralded as the birthplace of the country’s Industrial Revolution, in Pawtucket; Slatersville in North Smithfield; Ashton in Cumberland; and Whitinsville and Hopedale in Massachusetts. The river is about 45 miles long.

Read about plans to make the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor a national park.