Silk City

Many products were produced over the years in Paterson, but the city is most famous for its contributions to the silk industry. Nicknamed “Silk City,” the first silk was woven onto bobbins in Paterson in 1839. By the 1880s, production had increased substantially and Paterson became the greatest producer of silk in the United States.

In this exhibition, you will learn about the process of silk textile production, from the cocoon to fabric. The machines on display, many of which were made in Paterson, were all used in the manufacture of silk fabrics until the 1990s.