Legendary Dress: Iconic Histories of Drag Performance
Exhibit at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation®
- September 30 - December 31, 2023
- Time: 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Location: With Liberty and Justice for All
Free for members or with museum admission.
Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye lip-syncing “Sisters” in White Christmas … is drag.
Bugs Bunny dressed up as “Lady Bunny” to escape Elmer Fudd … is drag.
Robin Williams disguised as the nanny Mrs. Doubtfire … is drag.
Melissa McCarthy parodying Sean Spicer on Saturday Night Live … is drag.
Examples of drag in mainstream media are everywhere. For as long as society has reinforced ideas of gender norms, people have found humor and joy in playfully rejecting them. This October, The Henry Ford is launching “Legendary Dress: Iconic Histories of Drag Performance.” Containing recent acquisitions spanning the mid-19th century to 2023. The Henry Ford is committed to documenting the stories and lived experiences of the LGBTQ+ people through the collecting area of Social Transformation. This limited-engagement pop-up exhibition explores the story of drag — and its performers — through the lens of identity and community.
