At one time, Greensboro was known for its cotton products, especially denim and flannel. Our cotton mills flourished in the first part of the 20th century and they played an important part in Greensboro’s history. The above photo features a bale of cotton, on display in the easternmost corner of Revolution Mill.

According to the National Cotton Council, a bale of cotton weight 500 pounds, is 54-55 inches long. Based on quality, a pound of cotton costs anywhere from 60 cents to $1.60 a pound. It gets transformed from the bales to raw fibre to rolls of fabric to clothing. The process is fascinating and many of the tools, machines, and products can be seen throughout the halls of Revolution Mill.