The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

One of the many hidden treasures on the urban campus of George Washington University is the multilevel, multifaceted Textile Museum. It includes three floors of textiles from different parts of the world, as well as a gift shop and an interactive textile lab.

Exhibits include different types and styles of textiles from all over the world. Inside, there is a room of specially curated traditional Korean garments, cases of ornate headwear from all corners of the globe, dresses and gowns in various vibrant hues, and an incredibly elaborate seat cushion from the Joseon dynasty in 19th century Korea.

The gift shop features handcrafted offerings from artisans all over the world. On the bottom level is the crown jewel of the museum, the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center, an interactive lab where visitors can try their weaving skills on a user-friendly loom, along with other hands-on activities. 

The award-winning museum is free to visit and definitely worth checking out.