Inaugural Ball Gown

My sister-in-law and I had a fun day playing tourist in Little Rock. We've both lived here most of our lives and been to many of  it's historic places before, but exhibits are often changed and it's just to fun to revisit them.

We started at the Old State House which is now a museum.  It's the original State Capitol building and is the oldest standing State Capitol building west of the Mississippi. Construction began in 1833.

One of my favorite exhibits is "First Ladies of Arkansas: Women of Their Time." The exhibit explores the lives and accomplishments of governors' wives and also contains their Inaugural Ball gowns. 

My favorite gown was worn by Eula Terral who was the 27th First Lady of Arkansas (1925-1927). Her Roaring 20's flapper-like cream satin gown was imported from Paris and retailed by B. Altman and Company of New York. Most of the gowns are displayed on mannequins, but her gown with over 2,500 beads is too heavy and has to be displayed lying flat. It was so very beautiful. I think I would have liked to live in the Roaring  20's and worn flabber dresses, high heels, and long beaded necklaces!