Frederick Native to be Honored    Groundbreaking fashion designer and Frederick native Claire McCardell has been selected as one of the Maryland Mosaic's 142 "national firsts" to be celebrated in 2026 when the United States turns 250. Each piece in the Mosaic represents a county's significant contributions not only to the state but across the country,  underscoring that "Maryland is a small state with a BIG history."








 

History in Bronze  Our club was the driving force behind an ambitious project to create and install the 7.5-foot tall statue of McCardell that now presides over Carroll Creek Linear Park in downtown Frederick . TFAC gifted the bronze image to the City of Frederick to enhance its public art landscape.
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TFAC's Maryland 250 Events   Now, TFAC is partnering with Maryland 250 on a community event surrounding Claire's story, with her statue as a springboard. “A WEEKEND WITH CLAIRE" is for all ages and will take place at the Claire McCardell Statue Garden on Carroll Creek, Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3, from 11 am-5 pm both days, rain or shine.

 

Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3, Same Events Both Days

 

11am: THE CLAIRE MCCARDELL STORY: HER LIFE AND LEGACY + Q&A - Presenter Linda Moran, Frederick Art Club member and Chair of the Claire McCardell Project Steering Committee.

 

11:45 am-12:45 pm: CHILDREN’S HOUR WITH CLAIRE - Frederick Art Club member and book illustrator Sam Reeves reads the children’s picture storybook Claire, The Little Girl Who Climbed to the Top and Changed the Way Women Dress. Art Club vice president reads on Sunday. Kids can color reprints from Claire's Closet: A Coloring Book.  

 

1 pm: IN THE SCULPTOR’S HANDS + Q&A - Presenter Sarah Hempel Irani, sculptor and Frederick Art Club member who created the bronze statue of Claire.

 

1:45-2:45 am: CHILDREN’S HOUR WITH CLAIRE - On Saturday, Frederick Art Club member and book illustrator Sam Reeves reads the children’s picture storybook Claire, The Little Girl Who Climbed to the Top and Changed the Way Women Dress.  Marilyn Bagel reads on Sunday. Kids can color reprints from Claire's Closet: A Coloring Book.  

 

3 pm: McCARDELLISMS: WHAT WE OWE TO CLAIRE + Q&A - Presenter Amy Hunt, Curator of Heritage Frederick Museum and a Frederick Art Club member, accompanied by Art Club members wearing fashions inspired by Claire.

 

Additional activities on both days: 

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• Throughout both days: Reprints of pages from the Claire coloring book will be available for children to color on site or take with them.

 

• Plein air artists from the Frederick Art Club will paint and draw on site.

 

Claire’s statue is highly visible at the east end of Carroll Creek Linear Park, between Union Mills Public House and McCutcheon Apple Products. Go to Google Maps (this site will open in a separate window).  

4/7/26​