Tales of Edgartown: The Way We Wore: Island Textiles & Fashion, 1642–1850
Tales of Edgartown: The Way We Wore: Island Textiles & Fashion, 1642–1850
Spend your Monday evenings in the Legacy Gardens at the historic Cooke House, where local historians and storytellers bring Edgartown’s expansive past to life. Each week features a new speaker sharing a distinct chapter of Island history and culture. Enjoy light refreshments, meaningful conversation, and the experience of an outdoor summer lecture series.
THIS EVENING’S TALK: Island historian Norah Van Riper invites you to explore Martha’s Vineyard’s rich textile heritage in this interactive program, which demonstrates (almost) the entire process of turning raw wool and flax into useful textiles by hand. Today, wool and linen are considered luxury fabrics, but for most of Western history, they were the everyday fibers worn and used by all social classes. Sheep arrived on Martha’s Vineyard with the earliest English colonists, and flax became an important Island crop. The sheep thrived so successfully that wool became Martha’s Vineyard’s premier cash crop for nearly two centuries. But what changed—and why?
Presented in historical costume from a modern perspective.
Please note: We regret that the historic Cooke House is not ADA-compliant and cannot accommodate mobility aids.
Tickets: $30 per person; Season passes available
DETAILS
| Date | August 18, 2025 |
|---|---|
| From | 4:00 pm |
| To | 5:00 pm |
| Type | Weekly Event |
| Venue | Cooke House & Legacy Gardens |