• Shoe Stories
A circle of five women's shoes. Clockwise: eighteenth century, English silk brocade slipper with buckle closure, 1860s embroidered slipper with red silk lining, 1940s I. Miller platform sandal with metallic embellishment, 1980s Stuart Weitzman sling-back heel, 2010s Miu Miu brocade pump with velvet bow and shoe clip.
Exhibit

Shoe Stories: Past, Present, Future

June 26, 2026 — June 2027
A circle of five women’s shoes. Clockwise: eighteenth century, English silk brocade slipper with buckle closure, 1860s embroidered slipper with red silk lining, 1940s I. Miller platform sandal with metallic embellishment, 1980s Stuart Weitzman sling-back heel, 2010s Miu Miu brocade pump with velvet bow and shoe clip.

Everyone has their own shoe story.
Wearers, makers, designers, and inventors.

Shoe Stories: Past, Present, Future explores over four hundred years of shoemaking, design, and life in New England and spotlights the history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, and the distinctive part Historic New England’s Burgess and Lang buildings play in the city’s narrative. Using objects, photographs, and ephemera, along with oral histories and digital storytelling, the exhibition takes an expansive approach to the history and the future of footwear.

Thematically, Shoe Stories emphasizes the work and histories of makers of color, contemporary New England designers, Indigenous artisans, the sustainable future of footwear, and the global impact of America’s most significant contribution to shoe history—the sneaker.

Donor Recognition

Historic New England appreciated the generous support of presenting sponsor, Edward F. Gerber, and all donors who supported the exhibition.

Close