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Textile Heritage Museum
Burlington, North Carolina
Description

The Textile Heritage Museum established in 2004 is one of the few museums in the Southeastern United States, which shares the history and culture of the early 19th and 20th century Textile Industry era. There are more than 2,000 artifacts inside this 6,000 square foot original mill building that was once the company store and management office.

The residential village of Glencoe includes 41 colorfully restored and some reconstructed frame houses where mill workers subsisted and helped build the community of Alamance County. Some houses have unique features and additional detached kitchens and outbuildings. There is also a civic organizational lodge, and barber shop converted into a residence.

Mission

Collecting, preserving and interpreting the history of the Southern Textile Industry and the cultural heritage of a Southern mill village with emphasis on Alamance County.

History

The Glencoe Cotton Mill built in 1880, was one of the ten original Cotton Mills built along the Historic Haw River in central North Carolina. The mill was in operation from 1880-1954.

Following the closure of the mill, the village and mill complex fell into disrepair, but in 1979, Preservation North Carolina led an effort to restore the homes and the mill facilities. Included in the restoration is the Company Store and Management Offices, which have now become the Textile Heritage Museum

Artifact Collections

Original textile industry related artifacts of the 18th-20th century including machinery, clothing, military uniforms, personal effects of the mill workers and the mill. Modern exhibits of current and recent textile mills in Alamance County and North Carolina.

Research Collections

We have more than 10,000 documents, journals, photographs, and other artifacts of the Glencoe Mill and other Cotton, Textile and Hosiery Mills of the Piedmont North Carolina area.

Programs

Guided Tours, School Programs, Special Events, Textile Heritage Week, Lectures and Special Rotating Exhibits.

Facilities

We have meeting spaces to accommodate up 40 people.

Governance

Textile Heritage Museum, Inc. is a 501C-3 Non Profit Organization with staffing assistance from the Alamance Parks Department.

In 2018, the Alamance County Parks Department joined in a partnership with the museum staff to increase support for the current staff and museum. In the upcoming years we will add special events, educational programming, and new museum exhibits. Thank you for your continued support.

Library

Access: General Public, Students

Appointment required: True

Services

Guided Tours, Educational Programming, Museum Gift Shop

The museum gift shop

The museum gift shop specializes in a variety of books related to the textile industry and its rich heritage. We also carry other gift shop items to include T-shirts, customized socks, note cards, post cards, and other keepsakes. The museum also provides bottle water and sodas for purchase.

Tours

We offer guided and self-guided tours of the museum. Walk in visitors are always welcome during our open hours, but if you’d like to make a reservation for a guided group tour please contact us at least two weeks in advance.

Gift Shop
Event Rental
Group Tours
Events
Thursday, December 4, 2025

05:30 PM - 08:30 PM

Christmas By Candlelight in Historic Glencoe

Textile Heritage Museum

Burlington, North Carolina

Address
2406 Glencoe Street
Burlington, NC 27217
phone: 336-270-6374
e-mail: textileheritagemuseum@gmail.com
home page: textileheritagemuseum.org/
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Hours of Operation
Beginning April 16, 2019
Tuesday - Saturday9 AM - 5 PM

(Closed Government and Major Holidays: New Year’s, Martin Luther King, Jr., Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Military Observances-Veteran’s Day & Memorial Day)

Admission

Free. Donations Accepted.

Museum Type(s)
Culture
History
Historic House
Military
Park
Specialized
Staff
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