Browse Exhibits (15 total)

NEW! There was a huge boom in science fiction and fantrasy in the media in the 1970s, and with it a boom in local and regional conventions and costuming.

Discon 3, the 79th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), held on December 15-19, 2021, in Washington, District of Columbia.

This is a recreation of the Science Fiction and Fantasy masquerade in its original run order, and identifies the awards that entries received.

LACon 4, the 64th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), held on August 23–27, 2006, in Anaheim, California.

This is a recreation of the Science Fiction and Fantasy masquerade in its original run order, and identifies the awards that entries received.

Denvention 3, the 66th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), held on on 6–10 August 2008 in Denver, Colorado, USA.

This is a recreation of the Science Fiction and Fantasy masquerade in its original run order, and identifies the awards that entries received.

Renovation, the 69th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), held on August 17–21, 2011, in Reno, Nevada. 

This is a recreation of the Science Fiction and Fantasy masquerade in its original run order, and identifies the awards that entries received.

Costume-Con 1 was held on January 14-16, 1983, in San Diego, California.

This is the first Costume-Con, created and chaired by Karen Schnaubelt, then Karen Schnaubelt Turner. Many of our "traditions" started at this con, including the Future Fashion Folio, where designers could submit designs for others to make.

UPDATED! Costuming and Cosplay are not a recent thing. Convention costuming really started at the first Worldcon in 1939 (NYcon 1), when Myrtle ("Morojo") Douglas dressed herself and her then-boyfriend Forrest ("Forry") J. Ackerman in costumes inspired by pulp magazine covers:

But costuming really took off at conventions in the 1960s, paving the path to become the huge international convention and costuming/cosplay community that it is today.