Mourning in the Mansion 

Join us on Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14, for Mourning in the Mansion, a themed tour about Victorian death practices and excerpts from Portland Ballet’s upcoming production of Giselle.

Judged by today’s standards, Victorians celebrated the macabre with a complex system of practices for the time leading up to and following a person’s passing. In a time before antibiotics, even a mild cold or slight fever often served as a death sentence. Unlike today, death was something that was dealt with at home and most people were far more comfortable with practices surrounding the passing of close relatives than we might be today.

The tour will take you back in time to learn about customs surrounding death in the Victorian age, ranging from how to dress and eat to how best to entertain visitors while in mourning. In addition to the tour, visitors will see a haunting selection from Portland Ballet’s Giselle. Lights will be dimmed to gaslight levels for the entirety of the evening, casting a particularly eerie glow over the Mansion’s original interiors.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for Victoria Mansion members, and $15 for children 17 and under. This event is not recommended for children under 12.

Space is limited so please book early by calling (207) 772-4841 ext. 104 or click on a date and time below. 

For tickets and more information on Portland Ballet's Giselle, click here.