Temporary exhibit in three parts: Dyed in the Wool: Explore the fascinating history of textile dyes in this three-part series, covering everything from colonial times to the modern day.
The first part, Plants and Plantations, ran from July 3rd through August 30th and featured natural dyes created from plants, minerals, and even bugs!
Part 2, From Farm to Factory, opened on September 4th, with an opening reception on Saturday, September 5th at 1:00 p.m. This phase of the exhibit begins to explore synthetic dyes and their influence on the textile industry. Scheduled events include a talk on the History of Indigo on Sunday September 6th at 1:00 p.m., admission fees are waived the day of the talk.
New Permanent Exhibit: Thread City: The Rise and Fall of the Connecticut Textile Industry. This exhibit located on the ground floor of our main building focuses on Willimantic as an example of the rise and fall of industrial Connecticut.
Thread City is divided into five charettes. The first, “Age of Homespun,” introduces visitors to how people in Connecticut made textiles—thread and cloth—before 1793, when the American Industrial Revolution began. Other charettes examine the advent of industrialization; the role of labor; the building of industrial communities; and, finally, the decline of industry in the twentieth century. The entire exhibit is built out of artifacts owned by the Museum, which have mostly been in storage.