Tuscaloosa Museums Collaborate For Educational Halloween Event

Seasonal & Holidays

Tuscaloosa Museums Collaborate For Educational Halloween Event The Gorgas House Museum and Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion are inviting the public to learn more about grieving and mourning.

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Gorgas House Museum and Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion are inviting the public to learn more about the traditions of mourning and grieving in the post-Civil War and Victorian eras on Oct. 29.

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The free event will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is titled "Mourning Matters: Grieving and Etiquette in the Antebellum South and Further."

The joint exhibit delves into the historical practices of mourning, with attendees having the chance to learn about the region's haunted tales, as well as the cultural expectations surrounding death and grief during the 19th century.

Organizers said a complimentary shuttle bus will transport visitors between the two historic sites, offering guided tours, exhibits, and ghost stories shared by volunteers who claim to have experienced paranormal activities.

Attendees are also encouraged to wear Halloween costumes.

"I am thrilled to work with Historic Tuscaloosa, which does such an incredible job of preserving the other historic homes in the city," Gorgas House Museum Director Sonya Harwood said. "Thinking about how the Gorgas family would have spent time with the Jemisons further highlights that history never happened in a bubble. Emphasizing the connectiveness of this history through the fun of Halloween seemed like the perfect collaboration."

The exhibit will also feature historical research and personal letters from the Gorgas family that provide insight into how they navigated life and loss.

"My students and I decided to prominently highlight the letters of the Gorgas family as they provide an incredible resource for understanding how people processed death during that time," Harwood-Johnson noted. "Being able to look directly at Amelia Gorgas' handwriting while hearing an actor read her exact words showcases the true emotions felt by someone who lived long before us."

The Gorgas House Museum is located at 810 Capstone Drive, just off the Quad of The University of Alabama campus, while the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion can be found at 1305 Greensboro Avenue.

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