(Public) Whispers from the Veil: A Victorian Séance Experience

Step into the shadowy intersection of Jazz Age spiritualism and 19th-century gentility at the William Hickling Prescott House on Beacon Hill

In the 1920s, Boston society was gripped by a flurry of table-tipping and bell ringing, led by the charismatic Mina Crandon, famously known as “The Witch of Lime Street.” This special evening program sets the stage in a historic Federal-style mansion to examine how grief, mystery, and scientific inquiry collided in historic New England drawing rooms.

The highlight of the evening features a historical recreation of a 1920s séance led by Mina Crandon (portrayed by the inimitable Laura Rocklyn). Guests will experience the dim lights, mysterious rappings, and otherworldly manifestations that once baffled top scientists and enraged master illusionist Harry Houdini.

Following the performance, step back across the veil for an interactive Q&A session with Crandon herself. This is your chance to ask about her spirit guide Walter, her fierce rivalry with Houdini, and the thin line between psychic wonder and theatrical illusion.

Complementing the performance is a pop-up micro-exhibit of 19th-century mourning clothes and accessories drawn from the museum’s extensive costume collection. These fragile garments offer a haunting look into how historic Boston families visually processed sorrow and commemorated the dead during an era of frequent brushes with mortality. Together, the exhibition and performance offer an immersive, unforgettable journey into how Bostonians sought comfort in the unknown.

There will be three time slots: 5:30, 6:30, & 7:30 pm