Monsanto’s Fashions and Fabrics Through the Ages (1965–1966) was an exhibit in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, opening in March 1965 and closing in December 1965. Sponsored by the Monsanto Chemical Company, it expanded the Hall of Chemistry (1955–1966) by occupying the former Kaiser Aluminum Hall space, showcasing the evolution of women’s attire from the Stone Age to a speculative space age through historical costumes and synthetic fabrics.
Below are 10 fun facts about this Monsanto exhibit:
- Historical Fashion Timeline: The exhibit traced women’s clothing from prehistoric animal hides to futuristic synthetic garments, displaying outfits from ancient Egypt, medieval Europe, colonial America, and the Victorian era, highlighting changes in materials and craftsmanship.
- Monsanto’s Synthetic Focus: It emphasized Monsanto’s role in modern textiles, showcasing space-age fabrics like nylon, polyester, and Acrilan, presented as durable, easy-care alternatives to natural fibers like wool and cotton.
- Mary Lincoln’s Gown: A standout display featured an authentic gown worn by Mary Todd Lincoln, President Lincoln’s wife, loaned from a private collector, adding historical prestige to the exhibit.
- Stone Age to Space Age: The exhibit began with crude Stone Age pelts and ended with a speculative 1980s “space age” dress made of Monsanto’s synthetic fibers, designed to be lightweight and functional for futuristic living.
- Educational Dioramas: Mannequins in period costumes were arranged in dioramas, each accompanied by plaques explaining the era’s textile technology, such as handwoven linens in ancient times versus machine-made synthetics in the 1960s.
- Free Informational Flyer: Guests received a colorful flyer detailing the history of fabrics and Monsanto’s innovations, with text praising synthetic yarns for their “natural beauty and functional qualities” in modern clothing.
- Tomorrowland Integration: Located in the Hall of Chemistry building near Tomorrowland’s entrance, the exhibit tied into the land’s futuristic theme, connecting chemistry’s past (natural fibers) to its future (synthetics). The exhibit included a mannequin in a futuristic jumpsuit made of Monsanto’s Acrilan fiber, styled with a metallic sheen to evoke space travel, reflecting 1960s optimism about technology and fashion.
- Short Nine-Month Run: The exhibit ran for only nine months, from March to December 1965, as Monsanto consolidated its Tomorrowland presence to prepare for the 1967 opening of Adventure Thru Inner Space.
- Vintage Costume Authenticity: Unlike reproductions, many displayed garments were genuine vintage pieces from a collector’s archive, including 19th-century dresses, showcasing intricate handwork and historical significance.
- Balloon Vendor Quirk: A unique feature was a balloon vendor operating within the exhibit, selling colorful balloons to guests, an unusual retail touch for a museum-style attraction during Walt Disney’s era.
