Stitching Storylines Woven in Time — Yorktown’s Outlander Costume Experience 2026

Who is Terry Dresbach and why do I want to meet her?

I’m honored I was invited for a behind-the-scenes viewing of the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation's American Revolution Museum at Yorktown's spring 2026 special exhibit. What is it? Outlander: Costumes Woven in Time.

Thanks to Tracy Perkins, Media Relations Manager, I met with Dr. Mariruth Leftwich, Senior Director of Museum Operations and Education and Meghan Van Joosten, Media Relations Specialist.

And wow. Mariruth used the phrase “converging cultures and times” during our visit.

I felt these words, immersed in the exhibit with this woman as passionate as I am about our shared American history. In a place of learning history, where art meets reality.

So there it is: as someone who is not a follower of Outlander, I truly wanted to see this exhibit. You don’t have to be an Outlander superfan to LOVE this exhibit.

70s patchwork in colonial era.

Let me give you some context. Because many of you know by now, I'm slightly judgmental (Ha--slightly!) when it comes to historical fiction and portraying the past with accuracy. Primary sources are so important to me.

Recently, my friend Debbie Turpin, Master Wigmaker at Colonial Williamsburg (CW), was explaining the lack of white wigs for everyday use in the 18th century- a topic she often hits on with visitors. In our chat, she used a term: “Hollywoodism.” This exhibit, like Debbie’s work styling CW’s interpreters through an authentic trade, is not that.

Terry Dresbach is the talented designer behind these costumes used in Seasons 1-4 of the Outlander series created by Diane Gabaldon. 26 are exclusively featured at Jamestown Yorktown Foundation's American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.

Yes, Terry is a costume designer.

However, I'm also tagging her as an historian. Her deep dive into clothing worn by the people living in the times and places of Outlander's characters: on point. See why I want to meet her? Or at least talk to her sometime!

But let’s get into why Outlander costumes are featured this year in Yorktown; how this special exhibit was created, more about the pieces, the history, and so on. Finishing with a few calls to action of course.

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Claire's bat suit.

The Outlander Exhibit: nuts, bolts, and context.

Why is it here?

2026 is the year commemorating America's 250th.

This iteration of the Outlander exhibit, Costumes Woven In Time, covers the first four seasons- and it’s the only place you’ll find it. Also worth knowing, it’s not a traveling exhibit. This is limited and created by and for the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.

Shipped in from Sony in LA and from post-production in Scotland. Not an inexpensive project, but one I'm grateful the museum self-funded.

As this post is written, it coincides with America's 250th and the final season of Outlander. A series, that with Terry's skill during Seasons 1-4, was storytelling through costume, not just the script.

And for this exhibit, she hand-selected the 26 pieces on display.

Many of you may know that the Outlander series spans from the Scottish Highlands to colonial North Carolina. Looking at this exhibit in context, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown showcases, as they put it, "the research and rigor of historic clothing design."

The research and rigor is what the museum staff do all day every day; and the team was impressed with research and rigor used by Terry Dresbach to bring the story of one family's experience during the Revolutionary period to life.

All of this = uniqueness and the importance of the Outlander: Costumes Woven in Time exhibit.

Exhibit image.

How it was put together.

At the museum, the Historical Clothing Department are responsible to accurately dress approximately 70 interpreters at a given time.

Both Mariruth and JYF's Gretchen Johnson, Living History Manager, working with Terry and Sony Pictures Television and, specifically Terry Dresbach, created an immersive and exclusive experience.

Outlander: Costumes Woven in Time is housed in the Special Exhibition Gallery- a space allowing for creation of memorable experiences. In this case it means:

Portals you walk through:

Time and space defined as you move through the exhibit, the series' seasons, the decades, and the evolution of both the costumes and the characters.

As the time passage portal exists in the series, you enter each segment of the exhibit by walking through literal portals. The way in which the team set up your journey is on-theme for sure.

Portal in exhibit.

Flipbooks and videos:

As move through the exhibit, you'll view an assortment of accompaniments to the costumes. From photos of landscapes and scenery associated with each costume, flipbooks and videos elevate your experience.

My favorite example might be the video alongside the "bat suit." Knowing what she needs for comfort and function in the 1700s, Outlander time-traveler Claire gets to work in creating an outfit. The video clip, with the batman theme as a backdrop, shows her putting together the costume you see on display.

In reality, 12 different versions were worn by the actress through filming. This costume was shared to by both Meghan and Mariruth to be their favorite, and I can see why.

Lighting:

Every angle, every inch, every stitch, crease, and textile is carefully laid out. The result is not only immersive, getting you lost in time, but in your thoughts as you gain perspective on the people that LIVED our history.

The time-travel aspect is thoughtfully displayed, progressing with the exhibit, season by season and decade by decade. From the detail of each accessory to the enhancement of the materials: perfection.

You do not want to miss experiencing this up close and in person. Cameras won't do it justice. Terry herself talks about the inability to see all the detail when watching the show- here's the place you CAN see the detail she so intently ensured.

RELATED: Click here to open Terry Dresbach's blog post on Outlander's homepage in a new tab.

Claire's red Versailles dress spotlighted.

Highlights that stuck with me as a history-lover.

• The "modern" is as consciously created as the 18th century bits. But let's be clear: the modern is not "modern," it's just the modern moment in time that Outlander's Claire and Brianna live.
• I had no notion of Hollywood. The costumes designed by Terry Dresbach was 100% in keeping with the museum's efforts to bring history to life through clothing.
• The deliberateness in producing costumes to tell the stories of Outlander's characters. Not only main characters Jamie, Claire, Brianna and Ian but also of the Cherokee people who lived in North Carolina during the late 18th century.
• The detail. Period. From the rips in Claire's white shift to the custom tartan created by Terry for Jamie. The tartan emphasizing what the story and the landscape evoked in her.

Cherokee costuming on display.

Jamie's tartan as part of his wedding look.

6 Calls to action.

In closing this post, I've laid out a few action items for y'all!

1. Visit the exhibit: and the gift shop. Photography is encouraged! Take pictures, share the story, the history, and the exhibit with others. Reminder, because I have to stress this, the exhibit runs until May 18, 2026. It will be replaced by the Give Me Liberty traveling exhibit celebrating America’s 250th, opening July 1, 2026. If you miss visiting, videos will continue to be available here and of course: Click here for special exhibit tickets.
2. Watch Outlander with a new perspective: if you've already seen it or not, watch the series with a view to the costumes. Click here for Series 1-4 on DVD.
3. Can’t visit? Finding this article after May 18, 2026? Jump online by clicking here.
4. Follow the museum's social media accounts. Stay updated as 250th continue to be celebrated through the anniversary of the 1781 Yorktown victory, in 2031. Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
5. Dive deeper into the Outlander stories of North Carolina: download the ExploreHere app and use it to find historical markers in North Carolina...specifically those telling the stories brought to life in Outlander. From members of the Cherokee nation to settlers from Scotland who lived our 18th century American history, this app will help you on the road. Click here to get it!
6. Don’t miss anything on your trip to this area: If you visit, let me put together a travel itinerary incorporating the museums run by the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation. Let's talk it out and get you going! Book a call here.

Gift shop display of Outlander items.

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There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.

1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.

2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.

3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post, unless otherwise credited! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.