While we were in St. Augustine, I noticed a flyer for an exhibit of Downton Abbey costumes. As a huge Downton fan, I was really excited to see that the exhibit was still in town while we were there. I bought tickets online, and we headed over to the Lightner Museum when they opened at 9 am. It wasn’t crowded, and we were among the first there.
About 30 or so costumes from the many seasons and characters are on display, along with notes about the designs. You get a real appreciation for the level of detail that went into creating the costumes seeing them firsthand. The third floor of the museum is normally empty for events, and the museum pulled a lot of spectacular items out of storage to create an era-appropriate setting (they even have a desk that belonged to the Bonaparte family). The curation of the exhibit was a bit strange to me; I would have placed the costumes in a chronological order according to the show. Overall, I would call it a must-see for any Downton fans who find themselves with a chance to visit.
