Who we are

The Lost Towns Project is a team of professional archaeologists and historians, working closely with the government of Anne Arundel County, Maryland to discover and explore the County's rich heritage. The team is committed to sharing the discovery process of this incredible heritage with the public through hands-on experiences, publications, lectures, and exhibits. In this blog, we will share some of our exciting discoveries, updates, and events. Check out our website at www.losttownsproject.org for much more, or to learn how to become a volunteer or intern! No experience is required to assist us in field investigations, laboratory studies, archival research, and interpretive programs. Join us to rediscover the History in your own backyards!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Sewing Through Time Exhibit Now Open!!

In the Fall of 2011 Lost Towns Project applied and received a mini-grant from the Four Rivers Heritage Area to design and install an exhibit entitled Sewing Through Time: the Archaeology of Clothing and Textiles.  This was my brainchild, and it has taken over my life until March 24th when it finally opened!  It is located at the Historic Annapolis Museum in downtown Annapolis, and will be on display for 9 months.

The exhibit explores the history of sewing in early America as evident through the artifact collection of the Lost Towns Project.  The artifacts on display include thimbles, bone needle cases, hook-and-eyes, curtain rings, lead seals, buckles, scissors, buttons, and other sewing related items.  It also displays the evidence of prehistoric sewing at Pig Point: bone awls and pottery sherds with cord, net, and fabric impressions.  We also included historical documents and paintings to help illustrate the importance of clothing in early America.  Our resident artist (and dedicated volunteer), Barry Gay contributed six of his own paintings, which are beautiful!






















Stephanie and Sam helped me install.




















Considering it was my very first museum exhibit ever, I am amazed at how much I learned.   Not only about the artifacts in the exhibit, but also about how to design and install an exhibit and how quickly what seems like a huge space (20 x 13 feet) fills up with tiny artifacts and a few lines of text.  I had a HUGE team of helpers with this exhibit, and there is no way I could have done it without them!

I hope sometime in the next nine months you can find some time to check it out!  Send us a comment about what you think!  Here are the details:







Sewing Through Time: The Archaeology of Clothing and Textiles
The Historic Annapolis Museum
99 Main Street, Annapolis, MD
Monday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Sunday: 11am - 5pm
410-267-6656

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