The Science History Institute Museum will close for renovations beginning December 22.
The Othmer Library will remain open by appointment.

Join our museum’s Gallery Guides for a “drop-in” tour highlighting the remarkable scientific properties of natural dyes and textiles, the technology behind synthetic clothing, and the impact of fashion on human health and the environment. 

Have you ever thought about the science behind the contents of your closet? The technology that produces our modern clothing is the result of an unlikely collaboration between prehistoric humans, an 18-year-old chemist in Victorian London, and a Harvard professor employed by DuPont on the eve of World War II.  

Our Dyes & Textiles Tour bridges content from our new BOLD exhibition and our permanent exhibition, offering a broad picture of the scientific developments that shifted clothing production from the home to the factory to the laboratory. 


Drop-in tours are free and no reservations are necessary.

More events

December 21, 2024
For Families

Stories of Science: Cozy Chemistry

Join us in our museum EVERY SATURDAY for a family-friendly program that highlights strange and surprising stories from the history of science!

magazine ad featuring a baby in high chair pouring milk over a tray
December 21, 2024
Drop-In Tours

School Lunch Tour

This interactive drop-in tour reveals how food scientists, the government, and the public have shaped in-school nutrition.

Oral history bound copies, recorder, microphone
January 6, 2025
Classes & Workshops

Oral History Training Institute

This virtual training workshop introduces researchers to oral history and research interview methodologies.

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