Victorian Aid Society

“We DO History”

Since 1997

A brief Overview 

The Victorian Aid Society, the original Victorian group in Durango, was created in the winter of 1997 by Carrie Foisel and Linda Evans, two home-schooling moms, with a passion for the past. Linda loved Victorian lifestyles, and Carrie’s specialties were 19^th century history and costume. They had few financial resources, but a strong desire to share their knowledge and to promote an appreciation of history. Together they recruited a group of like minded persons to help them educate themselves and the public on life as it really was in the Victorian Era, especially in our wonderful part of the country.

From the beginning, the Victorian Aid Society’s goal has been to represent history accurately, to be a true “window to the past”, not just a “dress-up” group.  After numerous get-togethers with group members, in 1998 the VAS produced our first public event, our Living History Show, a combination fashion show and history lesson which raised funds for the Animas Museum. That was just the beginning; once the community experienced the VAS, its high standards, authenticity and living history skills, there have been no shortage of invitations to local events.  Since then, the Victorian Aid Society has developed and participated in numerous other events to educate and entertain the public on the 19^th and early 20^th century, often raising money for other historical entities and providing a unique service to our community.

The VAS has been an official non-profit corporation since 2002; we are now a 501(c)(3), which continues true to our mission of service to the community through education and activities to promote an accurate understanding of history. People love seeing our authentic reproduction clothing and hearing the social commentary contemporary with the styles at fashion shows which we have done  for the Daughters of the American Revolution, Embroiderers Guild of America, Methodist Church, Town of Silverton, area nursing homes, and Durango Friends of the Arts, among others. We also research and “become” local persons at walking tours, cemetery tours and on the annual first D&SNGRR train to Silverton each spring. We pride ourselves in respectfully and realistically representing not only the prominent citizens of our community’s past, but also the ordinary people who populated the area. VAS activities have included other events, too, among which are: bringing Santa to town in Durango, Noel Night,  annual caroling at the area’s assisted living homes and for the town of Bayfield, participation in parades in Durango, Silverton and Mancos, enhancing events for the Durango Western Movie Society, D&SNGRR, FLC Theater, Durango Public Library, Animas Museum, Durango Discovery Museum and the towns of Silverton, Bayfield and Mancos, working as movie extras, hosting Victorian Balls, providing classes for members and the public on vintage dance, fashion, sewing techniques, parasols, jewelry, hats, Victorian society, and giving lectures in Farmington, Silverton, and Durango. So as you can see, opportunities abound in this wonderful organization where we can actually “step back in time” to bring to life our rich past. We truly live history, and have a great time doing so! Join us to recapture the past!