Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - August 2, 1998
By Laura E. Criss
Vigo County Historical Society

Civil War-era dress on display

Innocent, well-mannered, well-dressed and lady-like described the portrait of a respectable young lady of the 1860s. And if she were a proper young lady, she was expected to dress accordingly.

The dress that is featured in this photograph was a daytime dress worn during the Civil War period. Similar to its name, the dress would have been worn primarily during the day, while the lady performed many of her household chores and domestic duties.

This gorgeous dress is pale green and white striped, with a pink rose floral pattern. The bodice has several small porcelain buttons with gold centers. It was made out of challis, which is actually a very soft type of wool. Challis was usually made with a floral print, which is also displayed on this particular day dress.

Today, more than 130 years later, the day dress is still in relatively good condition. The day dress, along with a photograph of the previous owner is displayed on the second floor.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday.