Melania Trump Donates Inaugural Ball Gown to Smithsonian (photos)


First lady Melania Trump donated her inaugural ball gown to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in a special ceremony on Friday, Oct. 20, 2017, in Washington, D.C. It will be displayed in the center of the museum’s popular exhibition “The First Ladies.”

Designed by Hervé Pierre in collaboration with the first lady, the gown is a vanilla silk crepe off-the-shoulder gown with a slit skirt, ruffled accent trim from neckline to hem and a claret ribbon around the waist.

The exhibition features more than two dozen gowns from the Smithsonian’s almost 100-year-old First Ladies Collection, including those worn by Frances Cleveland, Lou Hoover, Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama.

Joining Melania Trump on the podium were Secretary of the Smithsonian David Skorton and National Museum of American History Director John Gray. Pierre, the French-born dress designer, was also present at the ceremony.

The National Museum of American History is located on Constitution Avenue NW between 12th and 14th Streets on the National Mall. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily except Dec. 25. Admission is free.

View Jeff Malet’s photos from the gown-donation ceremony by clicking on the photo icons below.

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