Slater's Sheep Community Art Project

A public art project to support the Samuel Slater Experience.

Opened in Webster in March 2022, the museum brings to life the local history of the American Industrial Revolution with immersive exhibits, featuring hi-tech video, motion, and sound.

That history includes some of the country’s first woolen mills, established in Webster two hundred years ago.

That’s where the sheep come in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why sheep?

Samuel Slater’s claim to fame in America is his implementation of the first successful water-powered cotton spinning jennies and contribution to textile manufacturing. But he also built one of the nation’s first woolen mills in Webster, and a sheep symbolizes that achievement. (We also thought that painting a sheep would be more fun than painting a bobbin of yarn.)

How big are the sheep?

The sheep sculpture is life-sized, 30.5” high, 40” long, and 19” wide. It weighs 30 pounds. The weighted cement base to which it will be secured for display is 36” x 26” x 4.”

How long do the designs last?

When properly painted and coated, the sculpture can last up to 15 years.

Will there be more sheep?

There are several being painted that we hope will join the flock this summer 2024. Due to the excitement of this initial wave of sheep, we purchased five more! We are looking for sponsors for these sheep, so if you are interested, please reach out.

How can I sponsor a sheep?

If you are interested in sponsoring a sheep, please reach out to admin@samuelslaterexperience.org for more information.

Sheep in the News

Slater’s Sheep Featured in Worcester Telegram and Gazette

October 10, 2022 No Comments

Worcester Telegram and Gazette reporter Craig Semon visited the sheep around the Webster,

Kevin Hocker

4 weeks ago

Great, infomative museum with an impressive utilization of technology to enhance the exhibits. Highly recommend!

Frances Pam

1 month ago

Very interactive way to learn about a person.

Jon Saxon

2 months ago

This place is way underrated. The experience was fantastic and the volunteers were very knowledgeable and very friendly and gave us lots of history. I’m sure many people overlook this attraction, but it was worth the stop and they told us they would stay after closing so we could make sure we enjoyed all of it. We thoroughly enjoyed this and would recommend to anyone in the area

Kate

Really neat museum with interactive exhibits. Plan to spend 60-90 minutes here. The first part you have to wait to enter and then the rest of the museum you can explore at your own pace. This is a fairly new museum and it’s beautiful! The designers were incredibly thoughtful in how they selected items and laid things out. It’s in a residential area so it was a surprise to find this gem of a museum there amid houses and a park. It deserves a visit! The staff are kind and helpful. They are very willing to share their knowledge.

Beca B

Exceeded our expectations and we were so surprised at what was inside (do not let the outside of the building fool you)! Theatrical, interactive, and very informative.

Zachary LaVoie

10 months ago

Well worth the admission, this museum is packed with information and pieces from history. Paul has a wealth of information that was eager to share. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in American industrial history.

Amanda Paquette

We just had a great afternoon visiting the Samuel Slater Experience in Webster! Its an interactive museum that honestly reminded me of the titanic museum in Ireland. The volunteer guide gave us a great tour and we spent hours immersed in the early American industrial revolution of this area. We then stopped by Samuel slater's grave down the street. Great way to spend a cold afternoon!

Timothy Hallihan

11 months ago

We had the best time here. Thought we'd be through in an hour or two. There is so much to see and do. The folks that work there are so friendly and super knowledgeable. They did a great job of leading us around and making our experience that much more awesome!

Helen “Knittingfingers” Siers

12 months ago

The Slater Museum in Webster is a hidden gem! The exhibits are interactive with fun special effects and great historic facts. You’ll find everything from weaving looms and trolleys to cars and a recreation of Webster Center. So many cool artifacts from the Industrial Revolution—a haven for crafters and textile history buffs! The staff are friendly, the little gift shop is adorable, and I parked on the street since I didn’t see a lot. Highly recommend!

Ania

1 year ago

I visited the museum on a rainy day in October. It wasn't busy, tour guides were excited and eager to share their knowledge, I loved it. The museum itself is fun and interactive, you dont feel like you are at the museum. I've lived in the area for 20 years and it was nice to learn few extra facts about our community.

Linda

Beautiful collection of artifacts of life in a mill town, from home life to work life, BUT they literally SPEAK to you! You are not in a museum; you are transported into a story book. You meet all the characters and hear the who, what, when and why of any good story. It's not just for adults because the mills were populated with children; it's their history too. It parallels my family's history. Any one of the faces we saw could have been a distant cousin of mine. Closest thing we have to a future halodeck. I'll be back in the future as they constructing outdoor spaces to expand programs and events. I can't wait to see and hear and live more of the story my ancestors knew.

Richard Ames

What a gem! Can not recommend enough this small museum in Webster. An immersive experience that tells the story of Americas first mill town and the incredible people that brought it to life. The museum's novel story telling truly hits all your senses. From the creaks of vintage flooring, the rumble of water power, to the aromas of a 19th century mill village, this museum is a must see.

Roger Foss

2 years ago

I've been twice. First with my wife and most recently with my 12 year old grandson. He was reluctant to go, thinking the "experience" would be be boring. Now he knows, like me, that it's awesome.

Marge Webster

What a GEM of a museum. Brings you to the 18th and 19th century and the mills that built this area. Samuel Slater and his knowledge is well represented with authentic machinery, buildings, cars etc. as well as some hands on interaction. The staff gets you started and then you go theough at your own pace. What an enjoyable afternoon in my own back yard.

Jared McNabb

The Samuel Slater Experience was incredible! The AV components, lights, and sounds created a fully immersive atmosphere that brought history to life. The hands-on exhibits were both fun and educational, making it a truly engaging experience. I left feeling informed, entertained, and thoroughly impressed! I'm so proud that this is in Massachusetts, and I’ll definitely be a frequent visitor. Highly recommend!