By Christa Lamb, Director of Media & Communications, GMVCVB
There’s something deeply inspiring about witnessing a community come together to breathe new life into its history. In Lowell, something revolutionary is unfolding—a transformation that will not only honor the past but set the stage for the future. Country music artist Zach Bryan, whose music resonates deeply with so many, has purchased the historic Saint Jean Baptiste Church in Lowell. His vision is to transform this iconic building into the Jack Kerouac Center, a space that will celebrate the spirit of art, freedom, and creativity that Lowell has always embodied.
As a resident of the Greater Merrimack Valley, I feel immense pride in this moment. Lowell has long been a city of innovation, from the mills that powered the Industrial Revolution to the stories told by writers like Jack Kerouac. Now, we have another chapter to write—one where music, literature, and history meet in the most inspiring way.
This project is about more than preserving a building; it’s about preserving a spirit—the spirit of change and creativity that has always defined this community. Lowell has always been a place where change happens, where people push boundaries, and where something greater is always in the making. Zach Bryan’s purchase is a reminder that we can take a piece of our history and use it to create something new. By repurposing Saint Jean Baptiste Church, Bryan aims to keep the arts alive and give future generations a place to connect, create, and be inspired.
Zach has expressed that he wants to honor the city’s connection to Jack Kerouac and the role that Lowell has played in shaping American literature and culture. Kerouac, who was born here, captured the restlessness and raw energy of his times—qualities that still resonate in the Greater Merrimack Valley today. The Jack Kerouac Center will stand as a tribute to Kerouac’s legacy and the powerful creative force that has always been part of this city.
This is about more than just breathing life into an old building; it’s about bringing a new purpose to the space, one that will inspire not only music and literature but also future generations of artists, thinkers, and dreamers. The arts are a reflection of our identity, and when we invest in them, we honor who we are and all that we’ve been through. Zach’s decision to turn this church into a center for the arts is a perfect example of how we can honor our past while building a future that’s even greater.
The Jack Kerouac Center will be a space where stories are told, where music is made, and where we come together to share in something bigger than ourselves. It will serve as a living, breathing piece of our community—a place for creativity, culture, and connection. In a world that often seems divided, the arts bring us together and remind us of what we can achieve when we work to preserve and celebrate our history.
The Greater Merrimack Valley has always been special for its ability to evolve, to take what has come before and build something new. This project is a perfect example of that spirit. Through Zach Bryan’s commitment to Lowell and the arts, we’re seeing a new kind of revolution—one that will make our community even greater, not just in size or industry but in spirit, creativity, and unity.
We live in a place where history matters, where creativity thrives, and where our community has always been greater than the sum of its parts. The revitalization of Saint Jean Baptiste Church into the Jack Kerouac Center is proof that our future is just as bright and revolutionary as our past. Together, we continue to grow, to create, and to inspire.
