Mississippi Valley Textile Museum

The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (MVTM) is located in the annex of the former Rosamond Woolen Company in Almonte, Ontario; the site of what was once the largest woolen textile mill in Canada. Under the stewardship of Bennett Rosamond, the Rosamond Woolen Company began operations in 1870 and counted the heads of the Bank of Montreal, Canadian National Rail, and the Hudson’s Bay Company among its supporters. Constructed in 1867, this former annex and warehouse now features a blend of the old and new, all related to the history of the Mississippi Valley and the textile industry.

The Museum and building tell the story of how Almonte and Lanark County became known as the “Little Manchester” of Canada, spotlighting the many industrialists and workers who helped build this once-thriving industry in Canada. Open year-round, the MVTM engages in diverse, inclusive storytelling about the textile industry’s profound effects on people, workers, and the natural world — preserving, interpreting, and revealing the unvarnished truths of the region’s heritage. The Museum’s safe, welcoming, and open spaces feature historical, contemporary, and artistic displays and weekly weaving demonstrations, inviting visitors to connect with our shared history and with each other.