Every Saturday, the Science History Institute’s museum offers drop-in tours that give visitors the opportunity to hear the stories behind our objects.

Join our museum educators this Saturday as we explore the history of the materials that fashion our clothes.

From Nature to Nylons takes visitors on a journey from natural fibers to the development of plastics, and on to 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.

Our shorter tours are designed to highlight artifacts in our collection with unique stories. These tours last approximately 25 minutes and offer visitors an intriguing introduction to the history of science.

Know Before You Go:

  • Drop-in tours are free and reservations are not required
  • Space is limited to 20 participants
  • Participation is first-come, first-served
  • The recommended age for our tours is 13 and up
  • Guests will be standing for most of the tour; limited bench seating and portable folding stools are available to the public
  • Please contact us at museum@sciencehistory.org if you have further accessibility concerns you would like to discuss

Featured image: “Color Crazy,” advertisement from 1955.

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women in lab
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Drop in for a tour highlighting the central role of women in shaping chemistry and the material sciences throughout history.

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Stories of Science: Color and Light

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

Chinese world map, drawn by the Jesuits (early 17th century).
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Conferences & Symposia

The Global History of Modern Science, 1400–1914

The 2026 Cain Conference will address the major issues involved in understanding how modern science has been created through a process of global cultural exchange.

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