Unveiling of Holland Silk

The Paterson Museum would like to invite members of the public to a very special unveiling event. On October 12th at 6:30 pm, we will be officially unveiling the silk tapestry presented to John Phillip Holland, inventor of the modern submarine, by Emperor Meiji of Japan (1852-1912).

Holland dedicated much of his life to designing a functioning submersible vehicle or submarine. He tested the first of his prototypes, the Holland I, in the Passaic River above the Great Falls in 1878. His tireless efforts lead to submarines being commissioned by navies all over the world, including Japan. As a result of his work with the Japanese Navy, Holland was decorated with the Order of Merit Rising Sun and presented with a silk tapestry.

Given to the Museum in 1954 by Holland’s daughter, Margauerite Holland, the fragile artifact was wrapped up for protection and placed in storage. During its long time in storage, the tapestry had sustained slight damage and dirt. In 2021, the Museum staff prioritized putting the tapestry on display, as part of a larger effort to show more of the museum’s extensive collection of artifacts.

In collaboration with Cultural Preservation and Restoration Inc., and Metal Menders, the piece was conserved and a custom display fixture was developed for this unique piece of Paterson history. This project was funded, in part, by the Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council at Passaic County Community College, through a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

The unveiling program will be followed with light refreshments and a chance to view the newly updated John P. Holland exhibition.

The Paterson Museum, located at 2 Market Street (on the corner of Market and Spruce Streets) is in the heart of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. For more information about this event, or to learn more about the Paterson Museum, visit our website https://patersonmuseum.com/, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram!