Elizabeth Monroe Dress

This dress descended through the Monroe family to the founders of the James Monroe Museum with the attribution of being Elizabeth Monroe's wedding gown. The fabric actually dates to the 1750s, and may have been purchased for Elizabeth's mother, Hannah Kortright. The oldest seams and stitching in the gown, however, date from the 1786 time period, the same year Elizabeth was married, so it is possible the dress was made for Elizabeth's wedding from older fabric. Subsequent alterations dating to the 19th century suggest the dress was used by one or both of Elizabeth Monroe's daughters.