On our last morning in Fallon, we parked the truck and RV on the street and spent a few hours going through Churchill County Museum, a real find! Previous posts showed displays of wagon trains and the Lahontan Dam changing the face of the county. Now let’s see what else they have for us.
Such a nondescript building, but it contained such interesting exhibits.
fashion changes over the years
We’ve been rewatching Downton Abbey on our travels to prepare us for the movie this fall, and I’ve been enjoying the changes in the women’s fashions. So I loved this part of the museum.
1880s
Women’s clothing included corsets and many layers of clothing, dresses flat and close clinging in front and much fuller in back.
Ruffled bustle helped lift the dress, sleeves gathered at the top so they’d rise above the shoulders creating a short shoulder seam helpful to a broad-chested woman, necklines were high, with the overall silhouette of an hourglass figure with the bodice fitting tightly to the body.
Men endure starched, stiff, button-on collars around their necks.
1910s
columnar silhouette was becoming fashionable signaling the end of the corset.
This white dress is of a light cotton material so it could be worn during summer’s heat; it’s lavishly trimmed, the shoulder seams were in a more comfortable position, necklines were high, and skirts brushed the floor.
1920s
The flapper look came about in the middle of decade accompanied by short and sleek hairdos, close-fitting hats, and shorter-than-average shapeless shift dress. Busts were bound so the overall silhouette was straight-up-and-down like the shape of a young boy (womanly curves eliminated in this fashion statement).
This style was easily made at home on personal sewing machine rather than having to use a dressmaker. They had sleeveless or cap sleeves, a scoop necklines, were lightweight, no waistlines or a lowered waist. Material was cut on the bias to help the dress cling to the body. Natural fibers using daytime colors, such as neutral grays, browns, and blues. Pastels and more lively colors were worn in the evenings and for special times. Evening wear was embellished with beading, furs, feathers, paste gemstones, and lace. An Egyptian look was popular during this time after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. Long necklaces were popular.
The length of hemlines was rising by 1925 so that knees were beginning to be seen. They stayed at this length until the stock market crash of 1929 when they fell to mid-calf and lower.
1930s and 1940s
During this time, fashion returned to a more genteel, ladylike appearance.
Waistline curves were shown; hair styles were softer, and hair was shoulder length and permed. Small plate-shaped hats were worn. Shoulders were emphasized by padding (reflecting military uniforms in WW2).
Loss of hired help meant simpler clothing; undergarment helped define the waist and hold up stockings; full-length slips were worn; when stockings weren’t available, women used leg makeup and drew a darker line up the back of the leg for the seam; some two-piece suits became popular.
Evening dresses had oddly puffed and fitted sleeves and used new fabrics like metallic lame along with sequins and glass beads; bias-cut dresses continued and showed of a woman’s newly acquired tan in full-length backless evening dresses; daytime length stayed just below the knee while evening gowns were floor-length.
Wonder what museum would say about our styles for the past 50 years?
more exhibits
First Teddy Bear was introduced in 1903. The candy store owner had seen a cartoon showing President “Teddy” Roosevelt refusing to shoot a bear cub while hunting in Mississippi. He asked for permission to use the president’s nickname for this toy, and the Teddy Bear became a worldwide sensation. Now you know.
Early helmets for firemen were made of leather; I wonder how well it worked.
beautiful purple glass in so many designs
This is the only glass in history in which a change of color can take place. When the glass was exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, manganese-infused glass took on this rich purple color. With WWI, no manganese could be imported to the U.S. from Germany, and the clear glass/purple glass process ended.
steam road roller used to build the Lahontan Dam
This 1909 roller weighs 12 tons and was a mechanical workhorse of the project.
In 1861 the telegraph line from Carson City to Omaha was completed, uniting the western frontier with Chicago and Washington D.C. A portion of the line ran through the county following the Pony Express trail near Carson Lake. Later on more lines were added and more people were connected.
Bringing the telephone to Churchill County in 1889 made a huge difference to the residents. Imagine having to get a doctor before then by traveling 35 miles and then telegraphing through Virginia City, Carson City, and Reno just to get the doctor in Wadsworth! Oh my.
So much more was featured in this museum, but I loved learning from what we’ve shared with you. Time to leave Fallon! We were only here 2 nights, but saw a lot the first day and the last day so it felt more like 4 days.
