Our hallway exhibits highlights of our collections by exhibiting a grouping of artifacts related by a theme. In "Under Foot, the Sole of our Past," we exhibit a selection of our clothing collection by focusing on footwear.

 

The earliest known shoe, discovered in a Missouri cave, is dated to 8000 B.C.E. and was made from grasses and twigs. Shoe fashion and design have made great strides in 10,000 years. Centuries ago, the idea of shoes simply as functional items was dismissed, and shoes became a combination of fashion and functionality. Shoes made of leather and brightly colored fabrics, instead of grasses and sticks, became the norm and an immense variety of shapes, styles, sizes, and materials emerged. Included here are examples of shoe fashion through the 19th and 20th centuries.