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Fashions over the years have come and gone, but you'll always find different styles that make a reappearance. We have our costume room exclusively displaying outfits and accessories; but we also have costumes throughout the museum displaying ever different fashions that have come and gone over the years.

A second costume room was added in the winter of 1998 to display all of the various articles of clothing that were in storage. the most prominent display is of the undergarments: petticoats, camisoles, pantaloons and grandpa's long johns.

Requirements for an Afternoon Dress in 1897

15 yards of wide silk.
5 yards of silk lining.
3 yards of horsehair cloth to stiffen the skirt.
4 yards of silk for dust ruffles.
5 yards of velveteen skirt binding.
24 inches of skirt belting.
24 inches of waist belting.
1 1/2 yards of sleeve lining.
1 yard of crinoline to stiffen the skirt (we thought the horsehair did that, but never mind).
12 inches of buckram for the collar stiffening.
4 dozen fancy buttons.
1 card of large hooks and eyes.
2 cards of medium hooks and eyes.
5 spools of silk thread.
3 spools of cotton thread.
4 spools of buttonhole twist.
2 1/2 yards of featherbone for waist.
1 yard of small boning for the collar.
1 bolt of seam binding.

Gallant girls of the Nineties! Were you still gay after you got all that together?

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