The George Christianson Mansion, built in 1919, now houses the Hennepin History Museum in Minneapolis. The windows look out on what is now a park and was the Washburn-Fair Oaks Mansion District in the early 1900s. Christianson invented a process of milling spring wheat that brought him much wealth and made Minneapolis the wheat milling capital of the world.
Overlayed on the windows are transparent images of the homes that were here, some of the grandest mansions of the wealthiest families in Minneapolis.
The museum is mainly about the social life of wealthy Minneapolis. What did the rich and famous of the era wear? Here are a few examples. In the City of Lakes, the beaches were very popular and the well-dressed gentleman could enjoy the lakes in one of these swimming costumes. 
Ladies,of course, had to endure less comfortable clothing to appear well-groomed and proper. This corset intrigued me because of all the garters and other dangles hanging almost to the knee, as well as the various ways to cinch it tighter. 
And how about sitting under this electrical contraption with the wires attached to curlers to assure a popular "permanent wave" for your hair?
Volunteer Julie has a fun but exacting job. All the hats from a just finished exhibit have to be dusted and cleaned with tiny brushes and repaired before storing away. 
No high society lady would be wearing this number. This young lady appeared in one of the local theaters one night, and the show was quickly closed down after an outcry of "Indecent!" in the streets and in the press. Other more wholesome entertainment, such as opera and lyceum shows, was quite welcome and well attended.
Sadly, Mr. Christenson didn't live to see his grand new home completed. Neither did his wife or his son. The home was lived in by the widow of his son, alone but for 7 servants, for the next 40 years, before it became a county museum.
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What interesting costumes. I'm so glad I didn't have to wear a corset!
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting for me are hats. They are typically British ones these types you can see on horse races in Ascot. They are very great I would like to have one of them
ReplyDeleteI loved the hats as well and could do with wearing the corset since giving up smoking, some beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing x
ReplyDeleteFascinating history and love your creative angles in the window shots ~ xxx
ReplyDeleteartmusedog and carol
Every morning, I lie and bed and wish I am retired too.
ReplyDeleteI like those fancy hats and the swimming costumes would perhaps make comfy jogging suits today. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour!! I enjoyed it! Yes those hats were something else..and those corsets:(
ReplyDeleteA very interesting place to visit - but I think the window overlays of past houses are the most interesting - and most ingenious!
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to see what was worn in years gone by.
ReplyDeleteThat is a fascinating museum. It would have been fun to be rich in those days but a nightmare if you weren't.
ReplyDeleteLove the swimming costumes but I wouldn't wear one nowadays, even for a large bet.
ReplyDeleteThe past really is another country.
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
I honestly enjoyed this historic tour and reading about the area parks and workings of labor, etc. I bet I could spend hours in this museum.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing things like that hair curling contraption. Makes me wonder what people will think in a hundred years about some of our stuff (triple barrel curling irons and Dyson vacuums). Corsets seem so painful, but now everyone is wearing Spanx. We're kind of coming full circle!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting ... Times certainly have changed. And, what happened to the other mansions that used to be out those windows. The hats are beautiful, but you don't see them any more because it is illegal to kill the birds for their feathers now (thankfully so). I did enjoy this tour and you great pictures. Thank you for sharing ...
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From Teh Sol
I would hate to be hooked up to that, as someone said above, hair curling contraption, during an electrical storm!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post! Love the swimsuits! :)
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful to have the chance to open a "door" or "windows on the past" and to have instantly some infos "about the social life of wealthy Minneapolis"... Lovely instant pictures! Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteFortunately I didn't live at that time, wearing these outfits, lol ! Today it's much easier ! The hats are rather fancy, lol !
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice museum, I like to see those old clothes and habbits of the past. Things have fortunately improved for women as I look at those corsets! Those windows on the past are so lovely to have a look at the mansions, a great idea.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting museum – I’d love to look at the hats. I like to wear hats but rarely do because it’s not the thing anymore. I read your post about London too – it must have been a lovely trip for you.
ReplyDeleteNice shots!!
ReplyDelete