Infrastructure: Creating 19th Century Clothing Then and Now

Infrastructure: Creating 19th Century Clothing Then and Now

May 2, 2023- November 21, 2023 | Pre-Emption House | Included in Museum Admission 
Infrastructure: Creating 19th Century Clothing Then and Now begins with the fabric scrapbook of Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh. Her memories of almost 50 years of clothing she made and remade over time inspired this look at how the clothing styles of the 19th century were created then and now. The connection of clothing to memory and the importance of what we wear as a social and personal statement continues to this day, as seen in the overwhelming popularity of period costume dramas today. Infrastructure also highlights the recreation of period garments, with all the challenges and triumphs it entails.

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Watch our Exhibit Video Series to Learn More about the Various Topics Featured in Infrastructure!

These short chats with our Curator of History and Exhibits Team Leader explore different topics from Infrastructure, including Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh's fabric scrapbook, as well as dangerous and deadly clothing in the 19th century.

Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh's Fabric Scrapbook (Part 1) 

Infrastructure is inspired by the fabric scrapbook of Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh. Beginning with the Civil War through her marriage in 1903, Hannah’s fabric scrapbook documents over 50 years of fashion history with meticulously preserved fabric swatches and notations on how her fabric was used, reused, and the memories made while wearing it. In this video, our Exhibits Team Leader gives an overview of Hannah's scrapbook.

Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh's Fabric Scrapbook (Part 2)

Learn more about Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh, her fabric scrapbook, and how it connects to fast fashion in this video with our Curator of History. 

Crinoline Fires

In the mid-19th century, women started wearing crinoline, which were cages worn under their skirts in order to achieve a bell shape. However, crinoline sometimes got caught by fire while working in the kitchen. Learn more about crinoline fires in this video with our Curator of History. 

Arsenic Dresses

Did you know that some dresses in the 19th century had arsenic in them? Arsenic was dangerous and deadly to not only the person who wore the dress, but also to the person who made the dress. Learn more about this topic in this video with our Curator of History.