A sunbonnet is a cloth hat with a wide brim in front and a long flap in back, designed to protect the wearer's face and neck from the sun. Picture a hat shaped almost like a tunnel: the front brim shades your face while the back drapes down over your neck and shoulders.

Sunbonnets were essential for women and girls in 19th-century America, especially pioneers traveling west in covered wagons or working on farms. Without sunscreen, people relied on clothing for sun protection, and a sunbonnet kept the sun off their skin during long days outdoors. The design was practical: made from cotton or linen, often with a stiff brim held in place by thin pieces of wood or cardboard, and tied under the chin with ribbons.

You might recognize sunbonnets from illustrations in the Little House on the Prairie books or paintings of pioneer families. Though rarely worn today except at historical sites or costume events, the sunbonnet represents an era when people spent most of their time outdoors and had to be creative about staying comfortable under the sun's rays.