Museum plans vintage hat show

The Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center is hosting a Vintage Hat Show on Saturday, May 22 at 2 p.m. at the Museum.

Local residents will be modeling hats and other garments from the museum’s collection to show off the variety and beauty of hats that were worn in the County from the late 1800s through today.

Hats are important accessories because onlookers usually look at the face first. A hat is the most noticeable fashion item one can wear. There’s an old saying that says, “If you want to get ahead and get noticed, get a hat.”

The indigenous people of Hot Springs County wore headdresses of various styles, from single feathers to elaborate war bonnets and buffalo helmets. Early white settlers usually wore hats to protect their faces from the sun, and to keep warm in the winter. For them, they were mostly practical items made from leather, woven fabric or fur. Fancier hats, worn primarily as fashion accessories, began to appear as towns were developed and the community had special events at which to wear them.

“Our May hat show will primarily feature hats from the 20th century,” according to Marian Bender, a curator at the museum. “The people of Hot Springs County have been generous in donating their vintage hats to be preserved at the museum, but many hats were in storage. We wanted to get them out and show them off on local models, so they could be seen and enjoyed by more people.”

The show will feature hats for both men and women. Special items include a top hat worn by the local doctor, a trio of hats made from pheasant feathers, and a beaded cloche hat from the 1920s. And of course, the show will include a variety of cowboy hats.

The event will be narrated with descriptions of the hats, the hat donor, and the model. Attendees will also learn about the materials, the styles, and the function of each hat. The museum is still looking for a few more models, male and female. If interested, please call the museum at 307-834-5183. Must be over 14.

The Vintage Hat Show is a free event, but donations to support the Museum will be gratefully accepted. Light refreshments will be served.