Our award-winning exhibition and program series, #HandsOnHistory, is back for another year of interactive experiences for visitors of all ages. From sheep to wool. From flax to linen. From mulberry to silk. Until the mid-19th century and the rise of the industrialized textile factory, many Ridgefielders were creating textiles within the community: cultivating raw materials, weaving fabric to use in clothing, housewares, and decoration, and everything in between.

This exhibition highlights the production of the three types of textile fibers commonly produced in Ridgefield and the surrounding region - linen, wool, and silk - from the field to the finished fabric. 

Discover new ways of thinking about textile history through STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities woven throughout the exhibition! Learn about the chemistry of dyes, the geometry of textiles, and the algorithms of quilts and coverlets with interactives that are fun and educational for visitors of all ages. Hands-on activities include carding wool, spinning fibers, dying fabric with natural dyes, and replicating and creating patterns for weaving and embroidery. 

Participate in their Community Quilting Project! Signature quilts became popular in the 19th century as mementos and keepsakes from community gatherings, or as gifts for weddings or when families moved west. Each block was made and signed by community and/or family members. Visitors to #HandsOnHistory can add a quilt block to KTM&HC's signature quilt, with a message or signature as a record of everyone who visited the exhibition.