Walt Disney Archives exhibits coming to Arlington Museum in Texas

Opening on Sept. 14, 2024, the two collections feature over 300 pieces spanning over 65 years of Disney movie and television history.

“When we meet a Disney character for the first time, we instantly begin to understand them; that is how extraordinarily important costume design is to conveying persona,” said Chris Hightower, president & CEO of the Arlington Museum of Art. “By bringing these two exhibitions together for the first time, the Arlington Museum of Art surrounds visitors in the transformative power of wardrobe while celebrating the artists whose creativity and talent is conveyed in every design, every stitch, and every jewel.”

Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume

Presenting “the complex and intriguing antiheroes of Disney storytelling.” The Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume exhibition is organized into three Disney archetypes: heroes, villains, and the spaces between. It was initially presented as part of the D23 Expo in 2019.

The exhibition features a collection of original costumes from Walt Disney Archives, including the Sanderson Sisters costumes from “Hocus Pocus 2” (2022), Mary Poppins’ traveling dress from “Mary Poppins Returns”(2018), Belle’s ball gown from the live-action “Beauty and the Beast” film (2018), and the Evil Queen and Hook costumes from the television series “Once Upon a Time “ (2011-2018).

Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume showcases the work of award-winning Hollywood costume designers, including 2024 Disney Legend Colleen Atwood (“Alice in Wonderland”), Sandy Powell (“Cinderella,” “Mary Poppins Returns”), Tony Walton (“Mary Poppins”), Eduardo Castro (“Once Upon a Time”), and Penny Rose (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”).

All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives

All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives features iconic jewelry and accessories, from crowns and tiaras to watches, rings, and necklaces. In addition to seeing the pieces up close, visitors will learn how integral they are to defining a Disney character.

The exhibit is presented in five parts:

• Every Little Detail – Over 80 small pieces from earrings, cuff links, rings, and more
• The Feature Vault – A collection of crowns, tiaras, necklaces, and pendants
• Watches Through the Decades –  Showcases the Walt Disney Archives’ collection of wrist and pocket watches
• Made for Screen – Presents the process of creating some of the most iconic jewelry props
• Reflections of Reality – Showcases jewelry and accessories that were heavily influenced and inspired by real-life people and stories.

Some of the pieces visitors can see in All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives are King Brian’s crown from “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” (1959), Elizabeth Swann’s pirate medallion necklace from “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl“ (2003), Mia’s coronation crown from “Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement” (2004), and Ursula’s shell necklace from “The Little Mermaid” (2023).

Tickets for the Walt Disney Archives exhibitions will be available starting in June only at arlingtonmuseum.org. Museum members will have early access to free tickets as a part of their membership benefits.

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