The Heritage Winooski Mill Museum is an important resource for educators and students, a value to the community, and a substantial contribution to documenting the industrial and cultural history of Vermont. We offer customized programming for school groups from fourth grade through college as well as for homeschool and community groups.
Through engaging discussions and supporting activities, students can explore meaningful questions relevant to today's world while learning about local industrial and cultural history.
How has waterpower changed over time?
How does industry affect river ecology?
How do natural disasters or major events impact our community?
Do children have rights?
What can we learn about a place by looking for clues?
How can we find meaning through photography?
What can we learn from oral history?
How do inventions change our lives?
Museum Topics
The exhibits at the museum offer a wide range of topics to enhance your curriculum:
Sheep, Wool & Cloth
Rise and fall of Vermont's sheep industry
Textile mills versus home cloth-making
River and Mill
Mill construction and architecture
Power sources
Environment & ecology
Flood of 1927
Transportation
Waterways and railroads
Looms to Computer
Jacquard loom as the precursor to computers
Mill Closings
Antiquated machines, competition
Mill Women and Children
Lewis HIne photos c. 1910-1915
Working conditions, child labor, protest
Community Life
Company influence- mill store, activities
Boarding houses, education, cultures, religions
Workforce/ Immigrant Populations
French Canadian, European, Middle Eastern
At Work in the Mill
James Detore photos (1940's) of mill workers
Products and Markets
Wartime demands and other influences
Evolution of the Mill District
Growth and decline of the textile industry
Our staff will work with you to customize a school tour. For further information including pricing please call: 802-355-9937 or info@themillmuseum.org
Self Guided Walking Tour:
View the digital version by clicking on button or Click Here to download a printable self guided walking tour along the Winooski Riverfront and discover details of Winooski’s industrial past. This walking tour follows paved walkways and a rough gravel path. Good walking shoes are recommended.
Herbal Plant Guide:
Herbal Plant Guide
Click on the link to download a printable guide to learn about 12 herbal plants growing along the Winooski River walk. Descriptions share information on how each plant can be used for medicinal purposes and the colors that they will produce when used for dying fibers. Medicinal herbal information provided by Margi Gregory, Spring Mountain Herbs of Vermont.
Coloring Book:
Coloring Book: Architecture and Engineering
Click on the link to download a printable coloring book featuring local architecture and engineering images from our permanent exhibits. Designed by our summer intern and Champlain College student, Audrey Waggoner.
Self Guided Museum Tours:
Groups are welcome to use the museum for self-guided tours, but we ask that you call the museum in advance to reserve a time. While admission to the museum is free, donations for group reservations are greatly appreciated to help maintain museum operating expenses.
Public Programs:
Check our events calendar for scheduled homeschool and family programming.
You can also sign up for our email list to receive notice of future events.
Publications:
Clickity Clack, Wool, Work and Waterpower by Jeffrey Badillo, Teresa Hawes and Cathy Richards
To enhance a visit, our curriculum guide contains common core state standards, background information on exhibits, worksheets, and pre and post visit activities. Guides can be purchased at the museum.
The Mills at Winooski Falls, edited by Laura Krawitt
Short essays provide a multi-century view of the impact of the industrial revolution on Vermont - an under-researched area in the state's history. Appealing are the intimate and human portraits and reminiscences of mill life and its influence on the community. Illustrated and notes. The book is available for purchase at the museum.