YORKTOWN— The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television, will present an exclusive look at costumes from the “Outlander” television series in a new special exhibition, “Outlander: Costumes Woven in Time.” The exhibition will open March 6, coinciding with the premiere of “Outlander’s” final season on STARZ.
The museum says the special exhibition, which will be on display through May 18, will offer visitors an immersive exploration of the richly crafted world of “Outlander” through the costume design of Terry Dresbach (Seasons 1-4).
Hand-selected by Dresbach, the collection features 26 original costumes spanning postwar 1940s Scotland, the 18th-century Highlands, Parisian opulence, the journey to early America, and the cultural shifts of the 1960s.
As Season 8 premieres, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown invites fans back to the series’ origins through this exclusive assembly of costumes and accessories highlighting how Dresbach’s meticulously researched, emotionally expressive designs became central to the show’s visual identity and storytelling.
Tickets go on sale to the public on Feb. 25 on the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation website.
The museum says Dresbach’s work defines the “Outlander” visual identity. Adding that her designs are meticulously researched, historically grounded, while remaining emotionally expressive and pivotal to the visual storytelling.
This exhibition reveals how clothing becomes a powerful storytelling device, according to the museum, illuminating identity, class, culture, craftsmanship and the enduring interplay between past and present. Together, they chart a continuous history of how people express who they are, and who they might become, through what they wear.
“I’m so excited that the remarkable scholars at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown have provided this opportunity to showcase the work we did on ‘Outlander,’” said Terry Dresbach, costume designer for “Outlander” (Seasons 1-4). “In putting together this exhibit, they’ve shown such a deep understanding of how costumes are an integral part of storytelling and convey so much about characters, their lives, and their world.”
“As I approached my job as Costume Designer, I was constantly asking myself questions,” she continued. “Who are these people? What was their daily life like? What’s the history of their family? What was happening in the world they lived in? History is so much more than the listing of dates in a textbook. It’s the story of being human. This exhibit is a wonderful opportunity to examine our own lives and the history we create every day as we get dressed. I hope you enjoy the exhibit as much as I enjoyed doing the work behind it.”
This exhibition, spanning key moments from Seasons 1-4, includes costumes and accessories that Dresbach believes defined the identity of the show’s principal characters and exemplifies how time and cultures converged in “Outlander.”
- Jamie and Claire’s wedding looks (Season 1): Jamie’s traditional Highland ensemble featuring a tartan kilt, and Claire’s embroidered gown adorned with mica shavings.
- Claire’s iconic red Versailles dress (Season 2): designed to reflect her defiance, power, and identity as a modern woman navigating the 18th-century French court.
- Claire and Jamie’s Parisian 1740s look (Season 2): Claire’s fusion of fashion with a 1740s Dior-inspired coat, skirt, hat, and accessories, alongside Jamie’s black satin coat, waistcoat, stock, and breeches.
- Brianna Randall Fraser’s costumes (Season 3-4): two of her 1970s looks and her 1700s patchwork hunting shirt with period accessories (belt, deerskin leggings, and moccasins).
The museum says the two-month exhibition also connects iconic 18th- and 20th-century fashions on film to the craftsmanship of the museum’s historical tailors, who create authentic clothing for living-history interpreters at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and Jamestown Settlement.
The exhibition experience concludes with a dedicated area showcasing their work, and outdoors, visitors can meet interpreters and explore the clothing worn by 18th-century Virginia farmers and Continental Army soldiers.
A timed admission ticket to the “Outlander: Costumes Woven in Time” special exhibition is $10 per person in addition to general admission to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown: $20 for adults and $10 for ages 6-12. Parking is free. Exclusive items for the limited-time exhibit will also be available in the gift shop.
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown is located on Route 1020 in Yorktown, near Historic Yorktown and Yorktown Battlefield. For more information, please visit the official website.
