Galleries Blossom with New Exhibition of Costumes.

RJD House and Garden Museum opens “Lure of the Garden” exhibition of 19th and 20th century flowered dresses and accessories

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The Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum (RJD) has opened “The Lure of the Garden,” an exhibition of 19th and 20th century flowered dresses and accessories worn by the families who lived in the house. “The Lure of the Garden” runs now through November 15th. The public is welcome at the opening of the exhibition, Thursday, August 2, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event is free of charge.

The nineteenth-century industrial revolution unleashed creativity nationwide. Machine-woven cloth and then printed goods became readily available as the century progressed. The invention of the sewing machine in the 1840s and its sales across the country made possible the creation of new styles at home and with local dressmakers. Lace trims were manufactured as early as 1813 with the Leavers machine. Inspired by designs from Paris shown in Godey’s Ladies Book, women copied elaborate draping styles, bustles, and the use of trim on their gowns. Synthetic flowers enhanced bonnets and hats. Dresses and accessories in the exhibition illustrate these innovations in technology and style.

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The Rotch-Jones-Duff (RJD) House & Garden Museum was built in 1834 for whaling merchant William Rotch Jr. This Greek Revival mansion, located on a full city block of formal gardens, is a National Historic Landmark, one of only 2,500 currently so named in the Nation. The period rooms of the house chronicle 150 years of economic and social evolution of the city, as reflected in the residencies of the Rotch, Jones, and Duff families. The Museum is located at 396 County Street. It is open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for AAA members, seniors and students, and $3 for children 12 and under. For the summer season and through Labor Day, as part of the Blue Star Program, admission for active duty military personnel is free.

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