From Nature to Nylons: A Touch-Based History of Textiles

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 10:30am-12pm EDT

Science History Institute

315 Chestnut Street

Philadelphia PA 19106

woman crouching to feel lower part of Bakelizer

Touch Tours is a recurring program taking place on the second Tuesday of every month. This touch-based tour offers guests a private learning experience that combines a personally guided exploration of select gallery exhibits and a hands-on study of objects from our collections.

From Nature to Nylons begins with an introduction to natural fibers, such as wool and linen, and moves on to the development of plastics and synthetic materials like nylon and Gore-Tex. Guests will leave with a better understanding of how these fibers changed our world, and how the changing world influenced our desire for advanced high-tech textiles.

This tour is specifically designed to engage guests who are blind and visually impaired. We also strive to be inclusive for all visitors with various abilities. The registration form includes a place to communicate your accessibility needs.

Reservations for the touch tour are required, and participation is restricted to 10 guests. Because reservations are limited, guests are encouraged to register early. To register, use the form provided here on the event page.

What to expect:

The touch tour will last 1.5 hours but could extend longer depending on audience engagement.
Guests will make three gallery stops on the first floor of the museum. Seating will be available at each stop. A sighted guide will be provided when walking between stops. The distance between stops is roughly 10–15 feet.
The touch tour is a private museum experience as the museum is closed to the public on Tuesdays. Touch tour guests and Institute staff will be the only people in the museum space.

If you have any questions or would like to pay cash for the tour, email touchtours@sciencehistory.org or call 215.925.2222.