Garments of Sorrow

News Release Date:
October 25, 2024

Contact:Shawn Gillette, 423-639-3711

Contact:Kendra Hinkle

While Halloween was recognized differently in Andrew Johnson's day, families in the Victorian era observed specific mourning rituals in response to the death of a loved one. On Friday evening, October 25th, the historic Andrew Johnson Homestead will open for a rare evening opportunity to experience "Garments of Sorrow: The Andrew Johnson Homestead in Mourning." The public is invited to share this unique experience beginning at 5 pm. Meet staff and observe the way the Johnsons mourned the passing of a loved one in the late 19th century.

Mourning is the outward manifestation of grief and dates to the beginning of time. During the 19th century, however, Victorians expanded on the traditions of mourning and made them part of their highly structured system of etiquette. The Victorian era lasted between the years 1837 and 1901 and was named after Queen Victoria.

Two major factors in the mid-19th century contributed to the outpouring of grief -

The first was the death of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert. When Albert died on December 14, 1861, at the age of 42, Queen Victoria went into deep mourning which lasted until her death in 1901. There was great social pressure to make grieving public not private, and the public mourning was expected to be practiced in accordance with the popular culture of the day.

The second was American Civil War (1861-1865). The nation was reeling from the loss of nearly 700,000 people, and Abraham Lincoln's assassination as the war was ending seemed to be the culmination of the Civil War's many deaths. The nation responded to the devastation - and this first assassination of an American President - with many tributes and deep mourning.

Funerals, immortalizing, and remembering the dead were very important and very elaborate. Visitation was held in people's houses; later, when services were held elsewhere, establishments took note to still call themselves funeral "homes."

Mourning clothing traditionally reflected a spectrum of emotions and societal norms, using specific colors to symbolize varying stages of grief and the relationship to the deceased. Black typically signified the deepest mourning, while transitioning to lighter shades like silver, grey, and violet indicated a gradual healing process or a more distant connection to the lost individual.

"In recognition of a time far different than our own, we are offering a rare opportunity for visitors to experience these Victorian era traditions firsthand," said Park Superintendent Aaron Shandor.

Andrew Johnson National Historic Site is one of over 431 parks in the National Park System. To learn more about parks and the National Park Service programs in America's communities visit www.nps.gov.

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