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: Figure 20: Early method of bleaching cotton and linen goods on lawns, part of Chemistry, Developed by Facts and Principles Drawn Chiefly from the Non-Metals, 1884.

More events

August 26, 2026
Free

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

photo of two fluorescent light bulbs
August 29, 2026
Drop-In Tours

Stuff from Your House Highlights Tour

Join our museum educators as we explore the scientific principles and history behind everyday household objects.

detail of flyer for History on the Street event
August 29, 2026
Free

History on the Street: Back to School Edition

Kick off your school year with museums, cultural organizations, and community partners sharing their resources through a day of fun and discovery. 

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.