american textile history museum

A great little museum. I worked here one summer as a high school student and have been back a few times since. The staff there are all incredibly welcoming and a great resource on the mills and the rest of Lowell history, so definitely make a point to talk to them.As you walk through the permanent exhibit, you learn not only about how the mills were run and the textiles produced, but also about the lives of the people who worked in them. The first half of the displays is about the history of the mills and original textiles (mostly natural fibers) and the second half covers advances in textiles (nylon and other synthetics) as well as non-apparel applications (space suits, baseballs, cars, etc). Their rotating collection changes often and in my opinion is always exciting. The few I've seen have had more of a fashion/ glamour focus than the rest of the museum (though I don't think this is always the case)-- I saw a hat exhibit, a Betsy Bloomingdale exhibit, and most recently Artist Textiles: Picasso to Warhol.It has great content for adults and I'd especially recommend it for kids as there are a lot of interactive exhibits. You could easily walk through in 30 minutes, but if you find it interesting and stop to read the wall text, watch the videos, and talk to the staff (who walk through to see if you have questions), you could spend much longer.The museum has plenty of parking and is a short walk to the rest of downtown Lowell (which I recommend checking out!).If you're in the Boston area, I highly recommend a trip to Lowell and to the American Textile History Museum!

The American Textile History Museum is worth a visit if you're in or near Lowell Massachusetts. I like museums where there's some organization or system to the displays. If such a system exists at this museum, I couldn't find it. At one spot there's a film about baseballs, at another a film about parachutes. Then about cellos. Some fashion information, some old textile machines, etc. Two topics appear taboo--the fact that most textiles in the U.S. Now are made elsewhere, and the bitter labor struggles in the mills throughout New England, especially the "Bread and Roses" strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts.So, there are worse ways to spend a few hours than touring this museum. I don't know Lowell way, and there may not be better options. However, if you're in Boston, stay there and go to one of the truly great Boston museums.

Absolutely stunning treatment of the history of textiles in the USA. This is where all of your questions are answered in clear, concise descriptions. At first, in front of life sized scenes of early life in this country, the making of fibers, yarns, fabrics and clothing is explained. Some displays have videos which add another good deminsion. The only negative to mention is that the plaques on some displays are placed far too low, as if a child would be reading.Another excellent feature is the placement of labelled fabric samples which the viewer is encouraged to touch. The history takes you up to current times and into other textiles besides clothing, such as auto air bags and other coverings in your car, baseballs, specialty outdoor clothing and various areonatical uses. This museum is easy to find, even for an out of stater, and there is ample parking on the same lot. Also, there is a cafe in the lobby, but check the closing times, as it might close before the museum closes at 5:00pm.

I've been to a lot of museums, but this is one of the best! Very interesting and educational displays illustrating the history of textiles. I was worried that my husband would be bored, but he ended up enjoying it as much as I did! Each source of fiber (linen, cotton, wool, silk, synthetics) is very well illustrated and explained as well as how the fiber was loomed to create cloth. Large displays of looms from old textile mills, a real plane (Piper cub type), the inner workings of a baseball, and more. Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Also a coupon worth $2 off the regular admission fee of $8 is available on the internet.

I loved the museum, which have great exhibits alongside clear commentary and exhibitions. Especially suited for families, but adults can learn a lot also. An intriguing slice of history

Went there as part of a tour from the Convergence Conference in Providence (Handweavers Guild of American biennial event) and we got to see inside the stacks -- back in the collections and research space, that most folks don't get to see. We saw very old weaving drafts (1776), old books of loom part patents, sample bolts of upholstery fabric woven at area mills, quilts, bolts of linen, clothing from the costume collection that looked as modern as anything at Convergence!! OMG even a jacket made out spun chicken feathers! Then we got to run around the regular exhibits which had old spinning and weaving equipment, a nice new jacquard loom, an exhibit from their costume collection, including high-tech fabrics. There was a nice smattering of hands-on experiences. And, to top it all off, I bought a HUGE cone of purple cotton yarn for $3!!

I was expecting more from this museum. It was interesting but not great. It was pricey and took about 30-45 minutes.

Nice, modern museum (multi media/interactive), that covers both the history and science of textiles, with an emphasis on US textiles and the industry in Lowell in particular.Only negative, which wasn't really a negative, was that the displays and commentary seemed to be geared to school age children, perhaps in the context of a school trip. Admirable and important, but was a little simple for this grown up.

I had a great visit here, I was made to feel very welcome. The café was great and the museum displays were exciting and informative. I will come back again with my kids.

This is a great museum. The layout guides you through time with interesting historical displays. I came away with a much better understanding of how fabric is made and printed!

Great take. Very interesting with a great café and plenty of free parking. Never overcrowded and the exhibits change often.

This museum was a real surprise in terms of size (larger than expected), location (in an old mill building away from the other Lowell sights), and breadth of material. Fascinating information on historical textile production, a fine assortment of clothing, and displays of high-tech materials that we might not ordinarily think of. Very well done. And I bought a favorite dish towel there.

No where else in America can one explore the fundamental materials and techniques used to make textiles to this extent, while gaining an understanding of textile production's influence on American history. I have visited many times with a range of people--older family members, young children, friends, colleagues, and college students. Because the exhibits historic objects and architecture, tactile elements, video displays, and in-depth labels there is literally something for everyone here. Everyone I have brought with me to the ATHM has thanked me for doing so. I have never regretted a minute of time spent in its galleries.

The museum, as the name suggests, examines the history of textiles in America. It focuses on the origins of the American Industrial Revolution in New England generally and Lowell in particular and traces the history to today. But, in doing so it focuses on science (why mills initially had to be built near rivers, how the mills were powered, why they were built in a rectangular shape, types of fabrics and how they evolved over time, etc.), many important developments in U.S. history bearing some linkage to textile manufacturing (roles of mother, father and children in the household; immigration patterns; union organizing/suppression; education; urban development, decay and renewal; move of certain industries to south and then overseas). You can walk through replicas of mills, see original machinery, replicas of rooms in 19th century homes. There are multimedia exhibits (photos, drawings, paintings, videos, etc.) as well. There is also a good display and short video about the UMass Lowell professors who test baseballs for Major League baseball. About a half day or less is sufficient. The Smithsonian has done a nice job with this museum.

I went with a friend this afternoon at her suggestion (don't know where she heard about it) and we were both VERY pleasantly surprised. As Boston area locals we had run out of well-known attractions to visit on a day off and this sounded like it would be OK. It was a lot more than OK, though! From the logical, chronological way it was laid out, to the interspersion of fashion and technology throughout with bits of social anthropology thrown in, we were very impressed. It was also larger than I anticipated but designed so well that you flow through it easily without missing anything. Only $6 to $8 for adults.