Historic Costume Collection

Fashion is an art form, and presents unique statements of creativity that speak to the human passion for beauty, adornment and identity.  These attributes are universal and extend across time and throughout cultures.  Fashion draws people together and has become a matter of general interest.  Fashion, like art, reflects life and the world that surrounds us.


The Historic Costume and Fashionable Dress Collection is one of the top artistic focus areas of The Mint Museum. This special collection was founded in 1972 by The Mint Museum Auxiliary as a concerted volunteer effort to save community heirlooms. It is a rich resource within the Museum’s holdings that totals nearly 10,000 items and spans three centuries of fashion history.