This haunting exhibit is all about death and dying in the Victorian era. Visitors will see historic items relating to mourning, while learning what mourning customs were common in the late 1800s. Memento Mori is on view through November 3rd, 2026. 

In the late 1880s, many individuals perceived death as an unavoidable reality, and loss often affected their households. As societal perceptions of mortality evolved, people began seeking methods to cope with their grief, leading to intricate death and mourning rituals, some of which are still practiced today.

Disease and death did not discriminate between social classes or gender, and many people had to begin preparing for and accepting the inevitability of loss early in life. This exhibit uses historical clothing and artifacts to let viewers explore the life, death, and mourning customs of the late 19th century. Attendees can view items from the Wistariahurst Museum’s archives, along with objects from the Storrs House Museum and Archive in Longmeadow, MA. 

“It was fascinating to research how mourning impacted people during the late 19th century, and how many of the traditions they started continue to this day,” says exhibit curator Rachel Powell. “It’s amazing to see the similarities we have with those who mourned so long ago, and how we can connect with them through the keepsakes they collected.”