The Golden Age of Travel: Unpacking the history of trunks

Take a trip back in time to learn about the evolution of travel luggage from the Gilded Age through the Roaring Twenties. This lecture follows the transformation of long-distance luggage from wood-and-leather trunks weighing over 50 pounds to suitcases with synthetic shells, light enough to lift and store in an airplane’s overhead compartment.

Learn about the wealthy travelers who saw trunks as an exciting new technology that made it easier to see the world in comfort, as well as the wide range of professionals whose livelihood depended on luggage: craftspeople from the Lower East Side assembling trunks by hand, porters moving millions of pounds of luggage on and off railcars and ocean liners, and customs “inspectresses,” some of the first female federal employees in the United States.

After the lecture from Elizabeth Marriott, The Pocantico Center’s collections and curatorial projects assistant, visitors will be able to take a closer look at trunks from Pocantico’s collection and see some of the clever designs firsthand.

This event will be followed by a reception in the DR Center Gallery, now showing Shen Wei: Still/Moving.

All sales final. The snow date for this event is Friday, March 13, 2026. Refunds are not available if guests are unable to attend the event, should it be rescheduled to the snow date.