April Artifact of the Month: Victorian Shoes from the Hafen Store

Step back in time with our April Artifact of the Month at the McQuarrie Memorial Pioneer Museum—a pair of elegant Victorian-era women’s shoes on display in Room 2.

These black, high-topped, lace-up leather shoes were once sold at the Hafen store in Santa Clara for just $2.00 to $3.00. They were later donated to the museum by Helen Forsha Hafen, helping preserve a small but meaningful piece of local history.

Fashion & Function in the Victorian Era

While practical in design, these shoes also reflect an important shift in women’s fashion during the 19th century.

High heels had largely fallen out of fashion in the early 1800s, but by around 1860, they made a strong return—typically reaching about two and a half inches in height. This change wasn’t just about style; it influenced posture and silhouette, creating a look that was considered more feminine and fashionable at the time.

The pointed toe and structured shape of these shoes highlight the attention to detail and evolving trends of the Victorian era, even in frontier communities like Santa Clara.

A Glimpse into Daily Life

Though stylish, these shoes would have been worn in a very different environment than we might imagine today. Early settlers balanced fashion with the demands of frontier life, making items like these both functional and symbolic of refinement and culture.

Learn More at Our April Event

Want to see how fashion like this fit into the broader story of the time?

Join us for our upcoming Third Weekend Event:

“Victorian Dress” presented by Dixie Miller

📅 April 18, 2026 🕙 10:00 AM📍 Museum Meeting Room

Discover how clothing reflected identity, culture, and daily life during the Victorian era.

Pair of black, high-topped lace-up Victorian shoes on display in Room 2 at the Museum

Single Victorian-era women’s shoe with label, noting it was sold at the Hafen store in Santa Clara.