Tales from the Vault: A Peek into the ISM's Closet

Hosted by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the Illinois State Museum, and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site

The garments on view in the Illinois State Museum's Fashioning Illinois exhibition represent just a small fraction of the Museum's collection of historical clothing. Join Curator of History Erika Holst on this behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum's textile storage area to get a sense of the true scope of the Museum's collections. Holst will show examples of historic dresses, underpinnings, children's clothing, and accessories that rarely if ever make it into public view. In addition, visitors will learn how the garments came to the Museum, how they are cared for, and how they are researched and analyzed.

Advanced registration is required.
Register here. This program is free though donations are appreciated. The event will be recorded and shared to the Illinois State Museum's YouTube channel a few days after the event.

"Tales from the Vault" is a collaborative program hosted by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the Illinois State Museum, and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site that allows the public to discover some of the treasures from these institutions' collections. Each program will include the chance to view an artifact or document not normally on display, commentary by a staff member or local scholar, and a chance for group discussion.