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All 19 Lowell Attractions »

American Textile History Museum

491 Dutton Street, Lowell, MA 01854
978-441-0400
Ranked #1 of 18 attractions in Lowell
5.0 of 5 stars 6 Reviews
Type: History Museums
Owner description: This is not your run-of-the-mill museum. From spinning wheels to airplanes and power looms to baseballs, history really comes alive at the American... more » Owner description: This is not your run-of-the-mill museum. From spinning wheels to airplanes and power looms to baseballs, history really comes alive at the American Textile History Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. In our core exhibition, Textile Revolution: An Exploration through Space and Time, you’ll spin, weave, design, and recycle your way through time in an amazing interactive experience that explores how textiles shaped our country and impact our lives every day. Watch how baseballs are made from wool, weave on an authentic hand loom, man the controls of a real airplane, and try on a glove designed for the NASA space program. Explore how textiles are changing our world, from protective clothing for firefighters and soldiers to high-tech “shark skin” suits for Olympic swimmers. See firsthand how many of the clothes you wear are made of wood, crude oil, or plastic soda bottles! The clothing we wear, the clean water we drink, the sports we play, the cars we drive, and the roads we drive on are all possible only through the incredible world of textiles. And you’ll experience it all at the American Textile History Museum. Check out our rotating special exhibitions exploring fascinating topics through textiles, from the glamour and grace of 1930s fashion to the poignant stories of Vietnam soldiers. Enjoy our family-friendly interactive centers for hands-on fiber arts for all ages. Stop by our gift shop for a souvenir to remember your day of fun and discovery. You’ll never look at the fascinating world of textiles the same way again. ATHM has the most significant integrated textile history collection in North America including extensive flat textile and clothing collections, one of the world’s largest and most important collections of spinning wheels and looms, an unparalleled archive of approximately five million American textile samples from the 19th to 21st centuries, and the renowned Osborne Library for textile history research. « less
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6 reviews from our community

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Lowell, Massachusetts
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 May 2012

I learned about Lowells history and the Textiles and quilts that were created. We eventually had a Quilt designed and made by one of the local artists.

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Vermont
Top Contributor
59 reviews 59 reviews
Reviews in 34 cities Reviews in 34 cities
44 helpful votes 44 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 February 2012

This was a fun museum visit with the right balance between interactive features that appealed to our children and detailed exhibits rich with historical content. Some of the textile samples were gorgeous and the overall experience of the museum was enhanced by its location in an old mill building. The baseball exhibit was the most popular with everyone in our... More

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See 2 more reviews by wilvey for Lowell
Mass.
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 February 2012

I visited the American Textile History Museum twice in the past several weeks. The first time was just a regular trip to the museum and the second time was for a homeschool class. Both times were great. On the first trip, I went with my in-laws and my eight-year-old daughter. We had library passes and my in-laws had a Smithsonian... More

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Nashua, New Hampshire
Top Contributor
56 reviews 56 reviews
Reviews in 42 cities Reviews in 42 cities
54 helpful votes 54 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 February 2012

This museum contains lots of original artifacts such as woven fabrics and still-working looms. It also showcases many stories of the people who spent large chunks of their lives working in the textile industry. Everything is staged pleasingly, enabling the visitor to spend as much or as little time as desired yet still getting the most out of a visit.... More

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boston
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 31 December 2011

This is by far one of the most interesting and pleasant museums to visit. I believe it has something for everyone from kids creative activities through many adult interests. Look at the website in advance for special exhibits which have been amazing ranging from Betsy Bloomingdale Couture to Tapestries to the Thirties, just to name a few. The standard exhibits... More

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Boston, Mass
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 October 2011

Adults and kids can enjoy the hands on and interactive multi-media exhibits, including a guided tour created by teens using your cell phone. This is a museum that encourages thinking and doing along with looking at exhibits that range from colonial clothing making to the testing of major baseballs. A high quality museum located in what was once a historic... More

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