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Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 5pm

The Barker Mansion

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The Barker Mansion

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The historic Barker Mansion lives as a monument of industry, philanthropy, and turn-of-the-century life in Michigan City, highlighting the legacy of the Barker family.

10/29/2026

There’s still a few tickets left for tonight’s Victorian Superstitions Candlelight Tour! 🕯️ buy your tickets online to save time at the door!

https://barkermansion.org/events/candlelight-tour-victorian-superstitions-at-barker-mansion-3/

10/29/2026

🧹✨ This Saturday at the Barker Cottage!

Grab your broom and join us for The Great Witch Gathering on Saturday, October 31 from 12–3 PM CT.

We’ll have witch’s hat decorating, witches’ brew & treats, the Witch Dance, and a group performance — all with plenty of festive Halloween fun.

And don’t forget: BYOB… Bring Your Own Broom! 🧙‍♀️

Tickets are still available — grab yours before Saturday!

10/28/2026

Www.barkermansion.org/events

10/28/2026

The answer is false! 🎃

Halloween wasn't just for children! By the late 19th century, Halloween parties were popular social gatherings for young adults, too.

Parties could include costumes, seasonal decorations, games, storytelling, and activities intended to predict a person's future romantic partner. Some traditions involved trying to discover whom you might marry, making Halloween an especially popular occasion for young people hoping for a little romantic fortune-telling!

These gatherings were often held in homes and parlors, where guests could enjoy the festivities together. Halloween celebrations gradually shifted over time, but many of the traditions associated with the holiday today have roots in these earlier customs.

Happy Halloween! 🎃

10/27/2026

True or False?

In the late 1800s, Halloween celebrations were exclusively for children.

Think you know the answer? Drop your guess in the comments! 👻

10/21/2026

During the Victorian era, mourning was governed by elaborate social customs, particularly among the upper and middle classes. Following the death of a loved one, people were often expected to observe a period of mourning, with clothing, social activities, and even jewelry reflecting their loss.

Black clothing was especially associated with mourning. Some people wore black crepe, a dull, textured fabric, while mourning jewelry could incorporate materials such as jet or even a lock of the deceased's hair.

Widows were often expected to observe the most formal and prolonged mourning period. These expectations varied depending on a person's relationship to the deceased, their social circumstances, and the period in which they lived.

Mourning wasn't simply a private expression of grief, it was also a visible social custom that communicated loss to the wider community.

📸: This grey ensemble of a walking skirt and jacket in The Barker Mansion collection would have been suitable for "lesser mourning". Full mourning would have required all black

10/20/2026

True or False??

During the Victorian era, mourning customs could dictate not only what someone wore after a death, but also how long they were expected to mourn.

What do you think? Let us know your answer in the comments!

📸: Cordelia Barker’s death announcement in the Evansville Courier. She passed away on December 24, 1894.

10/19/2026

🎃 🎃 Don’t miss the Creepy Cottage! 👻 👻

Get your tickets TODAY for this creepy-but-not-too-creepy Halloween morning at the Barker Cottage!
🎨 Spooky Crafts • 🎶 Monster Mash • 🍬 Halloween Treats
📅 October 24 | 11 AM–12 PM

Grab your tickets and bring the little ones for some Halloween fun! 🎃 https://barkermansion.org/events/the-barker-creepy-cottage/

10/18/2026

🧙‍♀️Don’t Miss The Great Witch Gathering! 🧹🧙‍♂️
Join us October 31 at 12 PM at Barker Cottage for a Halloween gathering filled with tricks, treats, and plenty of witchy fun!

🎩 Decorate your own witch’s hat
💃 Learn the viral 2016 Witches Dance taught by Whiting’s Witches of Elkdome
🍬 Enjoy tricks & treats
🧹 BYOB — Bring Your Own Broom!

And just to be clear… no spells, no witchcraft, no rituals—just a fun Halloween gathering! 🎃

Get your tickets and details at barkermansion.org
https://barkermansion.org/events/the-great-witch-gathering-at-the-barker-cottage/

10/16/2026

Candlelight tours are back at The Barker Mansion!

Join us at The Barker Mansion as we explore the darker side of the Victorian era. With the Mansion illuminated by candlelight, you'll hear fascinating stories of the customs and beliefs that may surprise you!

Come curious...and maybe a little superstitious.

Learn more at www.barkermansion.org/events

Address

631 Washington Street
Michigan City, IN
46360

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 6pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

Website

http://barkermansion.org/

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