Dressing for the Part
By Will Ruark

Hello, my name is Will and I am a 24 year old man who likes to dress up.

When I accepted the position as Programs Assistant, I was told I would need to assist with interpretation and programming. It was also mentioned to me that I would be doing living history—and dressing up for the part.

So cute and yet so historically wrong.

As a child, I dressed up to help my father with programs about pioneers in Western Maryland. This involved me grabbing some miss-matched, overly large clothing that would receive a response of “Awww. How cute is he!” But, here at the museum—it was now important for me to attain clothes that:

1.) Would fit

2.) Were historically appropriate
3.) Would be a representation of my character (a young man from Maryland) and

4.) Would receive a different response then when I was a child.

These criteria then led me on an adventure. I had no clue that companies existed that made Civil War era clothing. I had no clue that some people in Gaston and Mecklenburg County spend their retired years hand stitching beautiful Civil War era clothing as well.

Union Soldier at your service!

I was given a job: piece together a Union Soldier outfit. This job took me almost one month. It involved me talking to a company in Idaho (and waiting a month while an “Old Lady” hand altered my coat), venturing out into the country outside of Charlotte to pick and choose an assortment of clothing from a gentlemen’s garage shop, and being told more than once that people would rather see me in Confederate Grays. It was an interesting process, to say the least.

But, hey, after the month process—I must say I look pretty handsome.

My glorious death during Civil War Soldier Camp.