Sunday School class with Rev. Eugene Land from Kings Mountain's Second Baptist Church on Linwood Road, circa 1970.

Cleveland County residents can take a step back in time when they visit the latest exhibit at the Kings Mountain Historical Museum (KMHM), located at 100 E. Mountain Street in Kings Mountain. The exhibit, titled "A Century of Fashion: 1880-1980," will run Saturday, June 9, 2018 - Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. Admission is free, and exhibit hours are Tuesday - Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
"This is an exhibit we can all relate to, since after all, every day we all get dressed!" says Sarah Lynch, KMHM director and curator.
The exhibit will focus on fashion across a tumultuous and exciting century and will explore the relationship between the changes in the world to the changes in clothing. It will highlight some of the peaks of Kings Mountain fashion and showcase some hidden gems in the KMHM collection.
"The dresses, shirts, suits, shoes, accessories and photographs collectively and individually tell stories of the people and times they are from," says Lynch. "This exhibit will give visitors a chance to delve deeper into the meanings behind fashion and will offer a look at the clothing of the past and at the town's history from a different perspective."
One highlighted feature of the exhibit will be the fashions of the year 1974, when Kings Mountain celebrated the centennial of the town's founding.
"For an entire month the city was bustling with activities, which included many opportunities to dress in 'period clothing,'" says Lynch. "In our collection are some of the outfits worn during the celebration, and they provide great insight into how the earthy tones, dress styles and fabric patterns of the 1970s found their way into the commemoration of 1874 American dress. It is an exciting celebration to revisit, and is sure to take many on a walk down memory lane."
In addition to vintage clothing and photos, the exhibit will also include a photo booth, hands-on activities and crafts.
For those who might like to get an early peek at the exhibit, a sneak preview will be held on Friday, June 8, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. This evening will be a celebration of food and music (as well as fashion) from the 1960s. The program is free for KMHM members and costs $10 for non-members.
"Fashion connoisseurs, history lovers and even those with very little fashion knowledge will find something they can relate to and enjoy," says Lynch.
To find out more about this and other upcoming exhibits and events, visit the KMHM web site at
www.kingsmountainmuseum.org, search for "Kings Mountain History Museum" on Facebook, call 704-739-1019, or email kmhmdirector@outlook.com.

By April Hoyle Shauf

Special to Community First Media