Victoria Mansion

Don't worry about being hungry at A Bizarre Victorian Bazaar: An Exhibition of Oddities and the Obscure next week. Sullivan House Bakery will be selling a selection of sweet and savory Victorian-inspired treats!

Tickets are available on the event page and our website.

A Bizarre Victorian Bazaar: An Exhibition of Oddities and the Obscure will feature readings from a variety of spiritual guides using tarot cards, Ogham staves, automatic writing and reiki.

Readings are included in the price of admission, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets for this October 3rd event are available now on our website.

A tour of Victoria Mansion is the perfect rainy day adventure! We recommend booking your tickets online in advance because tours can sell out.
https://victoriamansion.org/visit-us/

Last week our Morse Associates enjoyed their annual outing with a maritime adventure to Kittery Point and the Isle of Shoals. Our first stop was a visit to Wood Island Life Saving Station, a fellow 2026 Maine Preservation Honor Award winner. A recently completed ten-year restoration project has brought this exceptional property back to life.

Our sincere thanks to Laura Calhoun and Sam Reid for sharing this amazing place with us, and for the incomparable hospitality! The group went on to explore Star Island in the afternoon.

We’re also grateful to Captain Jack Farrell of Seacoast Marine Charters and Provisions at Pepperrell Cove for taking such good care of us.

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Join us on October 3rd for A Bizarre Victorian Bazaar: An Exhibition of Oddities and the Obscure !

This one-day fair kicks off the Halloween season with an educational (and entertaining!) take on Victorian folklore, customs, Spiritualism, and more.

Learn about poison books and wallpaper, how purported mediums conducted seances, and why some elite Victorians held mummy unwrapping parties. Have your cards or runes read, create Victorian crafts, and much, much more! This fair will have activities and games for kids throughout the day. Plus, a visit from “Dracula,” music by One-Eared Cat, and readings from “penny dreadfuls.” We’ll also have Sullivan House Bakery onsite for visitors who want to grab a bite to eat while they enjoy demonstrations and performances on the lawn.

Tickets available at www.victoriamansion.org.

We are grateful that Portland Ballet, S**o Museum and the Osher Map Library will be again joining us for the A Bizarre Victorian Bazaar: An Exhibition of Oddities and the Obscure. Their partnerships help us bring this educational (and entertaining!) take on Victorian folklore, customs, Spiritualism, and more, to life!

We are excited to have One-Eared Cat join us for A Bizarre Victorian Bazaar: An Exhibition of Oddities and the Obscure !

They are a duo from New York State offering two-part harmonies, high-end guitar mastery, and a crowd-pleasing set list. Band member Paul has a special connection to the Mansion because his grandparents were caretakers here from the 1930's-1950's. His mother and uncles grew up in the Mansion. We know they'd all be proud that he's playing here for the event!

Get your tickets now and we'll see you on October 3rd.

PS The band is named after Paul's 'One-Eared Cat' who was rescued from a local vet hospital.

📷 June Bug the Cat, band members Dan and Paul

Saturday (9/12) is Maine Open Lighthouse Day! Lighthouses all over the state, including three right here in Portland's Casco Bay, will be open for visitors.
It is also the one day of the year that guests can go up in Portland Head Light. (Get there early in the morning as tickets are limited and go quickly!)

Here is a website with more information:
https://lighthousefoundation.org/maine-open-lighthouse-day/

📷Portland Breakwater Lighthouse, aka "Bug Light", with a Casco Bay Lines ferry in the background, as seen from the tower of Victoria Mansion

Recently, Victoria Mansion volunteers and guides gathered for an evening where we could thank them for all they do for us!

The group enjoyed an evening of camaraderie, good food, and an open shutters event where the Mansion’s décor could be appreciated in natural light. Catering was provided by our good friends at Bird & Co.

Our volunteers contribute their time and expertise in many ways. Not only do they act as the public face of the museum by giving tours, but many share their talents by engaging in the work of our Board and Committees.

Executive Director Tim Brosnihan thanked the volunteers for their immeasurable contributions throughout the year, saying “We accomplish great things for a small museum, none of which would be possible without the help and hard work of our volunteers, who are the heart and soul of our organization.”

Would you like to volunteer at Victoria Mansion? You can apply here: https://victoriamansion.org/volunteer-application/

https://victoriamansion.org/volunteer-application/

Join us at Victoria Mansion for a member-exclusive evening with Conservator Siobhan Lindsay for a look at items in the Mansion’s collections that are rarely on display. In contrast to the decorative objects selected by Ruggles as a symbol of wealth and opulence, these items are more personal. They reflect the daily lives of the people who lived and worked in the Mansion.

Light refreshments will be served for guests at this event.

Due to limited capacity in the featured spaces, RSVPs are required. Members – keep an eye on your email inboxes for RSVP details.

Want to join as a Member, or need to renew? Visit our Membership page
https://victoriamansion.org/support/ or give us a call at (207) 772-4841 ext.101.