Belknap Mill to unveil new exhibit about building’s history on June 6

LACONIA — The Belknap Mill, the oldest unaltered brick textile mill in the U.S., will open its newest permanent exhibit, Threads of Innovation, on Friday, June 6.

This thoughtfully curated exhibit explores the Belknap Mill’s pivotal role as a leader in early industrial efficiency and innovation. At its center is the 1890s freight elevator, a key technological advancement that allowed seamless movement of materials between floors. This innovation supported a vertically integrated production process, allowing raw cotton to be transformed into finished cloth entirely under one roof. 

Threads of Innovation offers a hands-on and immersive experience that highlights the Mill’s groundbreaking approach to organization and manufacturing — a model that helped shape the structure of modern industry. 

“The Belknap Mill is not only a symbol of Laconia’s industrial heritage but also of the ingenuity and adaptation that defined early American manufacturing,” said Dr. Katherine Switala-Elmhurst, vice chair of the board at the Belknap Mill. “This new exhibit brings that legacy to life in a powerful and accessible way.” 

To mark the exhibit’s opening and celebrate summer, the Belknap Mill will also host a free outdoor concert as part of its First Friday festivities. Enjoy the swinging sounds of the Freese Brothers Big Band performing live jazz and swing in Rotary Riverside Park at 6 p.m. 

For more information, visit belknapmill.org.