Mourning, Mediums & Spiritualism
A Lamplit Tour of the Victorian Cottage
FRONT PARLOR
Mourning, Victorian Style
A lamplit Victorian Cottage sets the stage for the Kirkwood Players to share Victorian mourning traditions (1837 – 1901) with you. Starting at the front door, black crepe ribbons announce that the family who lives in this house has recently experienced the death of a loved one. The lady of the house will regale the visitor with various tales of a family member, present, if in spirit only, in the coffin. The question is: “Is he really dead – dead.”
EXHIBIT: Expect to see Hair Art and Post-Mortem Photography
BEDROOM
Step into the widow’s bedroom where, Anna, our resident seamstress, is waiting to share some of the lesser known facts about wearing mourning dress. Some of the gowns in the collection are truly quite beautiful.
BACK PARLOR
“It’s a good time to be dead…
at least, if you want to keep in touch with the living.” *
Good Husband - Bad Husband Phrenology Head Chart;
Imagine a world where photography and telephones were brand new…Welcome to the Victorian world of Spiritualism, Séances and Crystal Ball gazing…
The Victorian Era was a time of high mortality rates for both adults and children. It was also a time of new unexplainable technologies, i.e. photography and the telephone, both of which created the seemingly impossible; taking a “likeness” and hearing the unseen.
Audiences were very gullible and quite willing to commune with the dead, in whatever form or likeness possible, in order to know that their loved ones were all right. And, there were no shortages of “mediums” willing to take your money and tell you what you want to hear.
Phrenology, Tasseography (fortune-telling using tea leaves, coffee grounds or wine sediment), Astrology, and Tarot card reading were equally popular means of understanding the spirit world and calming concerns about the future.
EXHIBIT: Phrenology
KITCHEN
Death Comes to Dinner….
Reenactor - Volunteer, Joyce Miller, will welcome you into her kitchen in mourning. (Yes, you can eat the cookies!)
Gifts of food to the grieving family may have consisted of roasted meats, fresh or home canned fruits and vegetables, and breads.
FREE COOKIES! Be sure to snag one as you leave the Cottage!
P.S. The rest of the food is PHONY!
RESERVATIONS AND TICKETS FOR THE ART OF DYING TOUR
NOTE - These are separate from the Tarot Card Reading Tickets! Sessions are limited
BACK PORCH TAROT READING
SESSION AVAILABILITY IS LIMITED
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED
Magical Matthew
You can be a Victorian too!
Have a Tarot Reading!
Sign up below for the appointment.
The FEE IS $10
PAYABLE DIRECTLY TO THE READER.
NOTE: Be sure to bring your money with you! Cash is the way to go!
He also accepts payment on Zelle.
