American Textile History Museum

The American Textile History Museum was a repository dedicated to the history of fabric manufacturing in the United States. It held machinery, photographs, and artifacts that showed how textiles were produced across different periods and techniques.

The museum was established in 1960 under a different name and later relocated to Lowell in 1997, operating until 2016. Its origins traced back to a focus on preserving tools and equipment from the early textile production era.

The museum established the American Textile Hall of Fame in 2001 to recognize individuals and corporations who shaped the textile manufacturing industry.

The museum no longer operates at its original location, but its collection has been transferred to Cornell University's research center for preservation and study. Visitors interested in textile history can access the materials through that institution.

The museum's collection grew from a personal effort focused on gathering spinning wheels and hand tools from early textile work. These foundational objects became the basis for everything that followed in the institution.

Location: Lowell

GPS coordinates: 42.64198,-71.31676

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:04