Collections

The Dana-Spencer Textile Galleries at Hat & Fragrance

The name “Hat and Fragrance” refers to Electra Havemeyer Webb’s collection of rare hatboxes and the herbal sachets used to preserve early textiles. Today, the The Dana-Spencer Textile Galleries at Hat & Fragrance houses Shelburne Museum’s internationally acclaimed collection of textiles.

The hand-hewn timber structure was built as a distillery in Shelburne around 1800 and later served as a barn. It was given to the Museum in 1947 and moved to its present site. Four one-story rooms were added to accommodate growing collections of hooked rugs, hatboxes, and costumes.