Maryland Historical Society Hosts 1812 Fashion Show

On Sunday, November 4 at 2pm, the Maryland Historical Society (MdHS) will host an 1812 Fashion Show. "This is a new way of looking at history," says emcee Vince Vaise, Chief of Interpretation with the National Park Service at Fort McHenry. "Fashion puts an emphasis not on dates and objects, but rather, on people." 

The Baltimore National Heritage Area, in conjunction with Fort McHenry National Monument and MdHS, will present original designs inspired by the 1812 era. Models will don dresses of the 1800's – including daywear, eveningwear, and military regalia – and walk down a catwalk especially constructed for the event.

Models representing Dolley Madison and Francis Scott Key will be featured, as well as sailors and the working classes - "the people who built Baltimore," Vaise continued, "The Federalist era was all about the democratization of fashion - away from ruffles and silk, and with a new focus on tailoring."

This afternoon of fashion and fun is partially funded through the 1812 Education Committee on Lifelong Learning with additional programming support. Tickets are $30. To register, visit their website or call 410-685-3750 ext. 377.

Also this month, on Saturday November 3 between 10 am-5 pm, MdHS is hosting a bus tour of a wide variety of 1812 historic sites around Baltimore.

Stops include The Battle Monument, the Flag House Museum, Todd's Inheritance, Fort McHenry, Battle Acre, Methodist Meeting House and a special tour of the MdHS exhibit, In Full Glory Reflected: Maryland during the War of 1812.

Founded in 1844, The Maryland Historical Society Museum and Library occupies an entire city block in the Mount Vernon district of Baltimore. The society's mission is to "collect, preserve, and interpret the objects and materials that reflect Maryland's diverse cultural heritage." The Society is home to the original manuscript of the Star-Spangled Banner and publishes a quarterly titled "Maryland Historical Magazine." 

For more information, contact Marketing Director Laura Rodini at 410-685-3750 Ext. 322 or lrodini@mdhs.org.