About the Museum
The History and Art of Hatmaking on Display
From the oldest hat factory, the Hatmaking Museum was born in 2005. Unique in the Iberian Peninsula, the Museum pays homage to the men and women who made the hat industry one of the most important activities in the region's history.
Visit the Museum and discover in its museum space the images, machinery, tools, and hats that illustrate the magical world of hats, but also the human, social, and cultural dimension of a community for which this activity has always played a prominent role.
Explore long-term exhibitions and learn about the lives of the workers in this industry. Learn how to make a hat. Travel back in time to a time when no one went out without a hat.
Take this trip with us and enjoy the guided tours, workshops, and educational activities we've prepared just for you.
Discover the world of hats
History of the museum
The Hat Museum is overseen by the City Hall of S. João da Madeira. In 1996, the municipality purchased the building of the most important hat company of the city and various machines and tools that belonged to this and several other companies that closed during those years.
Today the museum has several awards, is accredited and integrates the Portuguese Museums Network.
Concept and vocation of the museum
The Museum is conceptually oriented to the theme of millinery industry, hats commercialization, social habits and economical impact. It aims to be a place for reflection, study and research of a reality that shaped the history of the city and the region.
The industrial hat making company
The Industrial hat making company was founded, in 1914, by José António Oliveira Junior, whom S. João da Madeira was grateful. He also received, by the government of its time, the Diploma of Industrial and Agricultural Merit.
Donate
The Hat Museum is available to receive your hat and take care of it.
If you have objects related to hat industry and has no conditions to preserve them correctly, you can get in touch with the team. Tell us the story of that object and the history of the person who used it, and transform the Hat Museum into your own museum.
Contacts
Do you want to book a guided tour? Do you need any information about the museum? Do you wish to present a project or donate an object?
Contact us!