Overview
The Windham Textile and History Museum (aka the Mill Museum) is dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and sharing the history of the local textile industry and examining the associated social, cultural, technological, and economic impacts. We have museum exhibit spaces, a library, lecture spaces and hands-on educational experiences . At its core, our organization is a historical society dedicated to preserving and promoting the area’s rich history. The museum is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
History
The Museum’s history traces to the Willimantic Linen Company and its successor, the American Thread Company. These firms were among the world leaders in cotton thread production for over 100 years. In 1985, American Thread followed the textile industry to North Carolina and closed its primary Willimantic operation. The museum was established a few years later; conceived as a means of preserving the history and sharing the heritage of the industry, culture, and community that had developed. The Museum presently occupies two historic buildings that were last used by American Thread.
Today
The museum hosts numerous exhibits on the textile industry, associated technology, local history, and culture. In addition to our permanent exhibits, we host a variety of temporary exhibits every year. The museum also hosts many special events ranging from lecture series to workshops, as well as social events and performances by local musicians.
Our library contains an extensive collection of documents, maps, and photographs related to both the textile industry and our regional history. We have a collection of historic American Thread Company (ATCO) documents ranging from engineering drawings to research materials; many of which are likely unique. Our collection includes many local history records. We also have a substantial collection of literature related to the various textile hobbies.
The museum is presently engaged in an ongoing effort to digitize our collections and make them available via the Connecticut Digital Archives.