Gift to First Ladies Collection Continues a Century-Old Tradition
First Lady of the United States Melania Trump formally presented the gown she wore to the 2025 inaugural balls to the Smithsonian’s First Ladies Collection, Friday, Feb. 20, during a ceremony at the National Museum of American History. The strapless off-white silk crepe gown trimmed with two bands of black silk gazar will be displayed at the center of the museum’s popular “The First Ladies,” exhibition beginning today.
The gown was designed by Hervé Pierre, a French American fashion and costume designer, who also designed Mrs. Trump’s 2017 inaugural ball gown. Accenting the dress is a reproduction of a 1955 Harry Winston original creation, a curving, floral diamond brooch. Mrs. Trump borrowed the original, an archival piece from the House of Harry Winston, and pinned it to a black ribbon that she wore as a choker.
For more than 100 years, the First Ladies Collection has been one of the most popular attractions at the Smithsonian. It originated in 1912, and the inaugural “First Ladies” exhibition mounted in 1914 was the first display at the Smithsonian to prominently feature women. The exhibition itself has changed in size, location, style and narrative several times over many decades.
“Today Melania Trump continues a beloved century-long tradition and also paves a new path as the only modern First Lady to serve two non-consecutive terms,” said Anthea M. Hartig, the museum’s Elizabeth MacMillan Director. “Hervé Pierre’s stunning 2025 creation joins the gown he designed for the First Lady’s first ball, carrying on the tradition started by Helen Taft when she donated her gown from the 1909 inaugural.”
President Grover Cleveland’s non-consecutive administrations were represented by two dresses in the earlier iteration of “The First Ladies” exhibition that displayed every administration in chronological order. Since Cleveland was a bachelor when he took office at his March 1885 inauguration, the first Cleveland administration was represented by a dress worn by his sister, Rose Cleveland, who served as his hostess until he married Frances Folsom in June 1886. The second Cleveland administration was represented by a dress worn by Frances Cleveland during that time. By collecting and exhibiting Melania Trump’s 2017 inaugural ball gown and 2025 inaugural ball gown, the Smithsonian is merging two traditions from the collection—the representation of non-consecutive administrations and the tradition of the First Lady donating her inaugural ball gown.
The ceremony included remarks from Lonnie Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; Anthea M. Hartig, the museum’s Elizabeth MacMillan Director; and Mrs. Trump.
The First Lady’s gown donation ceremony is made possible by a gift from the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation.
“The First Ladies” exhibition features 26 dresses and more than 130 other objects, ranging from those belonging to Martha Washington to Melania Trump, and it includes White House state china place settings, personal possessions and artifacts from the Smithsonian’s unique collection. Among the dresses on view are Grace Coolidge’s flapper-style evening gown, Jacqueline Kennedy’s yellow-silk gown worn to the 1961 Kennedy administration’s first state dinner and Eleanor Roosevelt’s slate blue crepe gown, which she wore to the 1933 inaugural ball. For more than 200 years, the public has admired their individual approach to shaping their role in the White House.
The exhibition examines this in four main sections: “The Fashionable First Lady” explores the public’s interest in the first ladies’ fashions. Only a few first ladies have become fashion icons, inspiring trends and promoting American designers, but all have had their wardrobes scrutinized by the American public, continuing the debate over what is “appropriate” for presidential style.
“The Nation’s Hostess” looks at the role the First Lady has played for the nation and the presidential administrations. Each reception or dinner is an opportunity for the First Lady to help build America’s international relationships, win political friends and public support for the President or further his administration’s agenda. Each First Lady puts her own stamp on presidential hospitality.
“Inauguration and Opportunities” looks at the inauguration of a President as a time of optimism and new beginnings. In addition to attending ceremonies and balls, incoming first ladies often announce the agendas and special projects they intend to pursue.
“Changing Times, Changing First Ladies” highlights Dolley Madison, Mary Lincoln, Edith Roosevelt and Lady Bird Johnson, who fashioned their own ways of handling the White House, families, parties, and their political influence and activities. Through different times and circumstances, they crafted significant roles for themselves that they believed would allow them to best serve the country.
Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History seeks to empower people to create a more just and compassionate future by examining, preserving and sharing the complexity of our past. The museum, located on Constitution Avenue N.W. between 12th and 14th streets, is open daily except Dec. 25, between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. The doors of the museum are always open online, and the virtual museum offers ever-expanding access to online exhibitions, PK–12 educational materials and programs. The public can follow the museum on social media on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.