Mamie Eisenhower Reproduction 1953 Inaugural Gown Now On Display at Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center

Gettysburg, PA – Eisenhower National Historic Site (NHS) staff are excited to unveil a new exhibit in the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center. This temporary exhibit now includes a reproduction gown, similar to that worn by Mamie Eisenhower at the 1953 inaugural ball of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The exhibit, located in the Exhibit Spotlight of the Museum and Visitor Center, was installed on January 8 and will remain on display through the spring of 2025. The original gown was designed by Nettie Rosenstein and Eva Rosencrans and reproduced in painstaking detail by park staff, Alyce Evans and Eva Blankenhorn, of Eisenhower NHS. This faithful reproduction includes nearly two thousand hand-applied rhinestones. The exhibit draws visitor’s attention to the iconic style and fashion of Mamie as the Eisenhower’s commenced their first of two terms in the White House. Visitors to the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center can see this temporary exhibit free of charge. Hours are 9 am to 4 pm through February 28. Hours are 8 am to 5 pm beginning March 1.

Eisenhower National Historic Site preserves the farm of General and 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Adjacent to the Gettysburg battlefield, the farm served the president and first lady as a weekend retreat and as a meeting place for world leaders. With its peaceful setting and view of South Mountain, it was a respite from Washington, D.C., and a backdrop for efforts to reduce Cold War tensions. For more information, visit the Eisenhower NHS website at www.nps.gov/eise.

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About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 433 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at http://www.nps.gov and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.