Explore an array of Victorian era texts featuring plant content, gardens, poison plants and murder mysteries, along with mourning and grief with members of the Mourning Society of St. Louis (dressed in period costume). Learn more about specific literary works used to symbolize loss, grief, and rebirth, including Rappaccini’s Daughter, The Secret Garden, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Pride and Prejudice.

Make mourning crafts of Victorian mourning jewelry and embroider handkerchiefs with Creative Experience at St. Louis Public Library. Sponsored by Nancy Ridenour. This event is included in Garden admission.

The Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum is one of the historic structures on the grounds of the Garden. This event is a collaboration with the special exhibition: The Literary Garden:The Cultivation of Plants & Gardens in Narratives May 8, 2026–March 31, 2027!

The Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum

image courtesy of Mary Lou Olsen

Our fourth annual Mourning Society Members Picnic will take place at Bellefontaine Cemetery on Saturday September 26, 2026 starting at 11:30 AM. Attendees should bring their own picnic lunch and are encouraged to get creative with their period 1860s through 1910s picnic set-ups and clothing but this is not required. You can also join us in your street clothes with modern picnic supplies.

Even though this is a members' event, it is open to the public if you’d like to join us.. It’s a great chance to meet us if you are interested in joining and want to chat. Space is limited.

RSVP will open in July 2026

Consolations of Memory isn’t quite like all the other fall cemetery tours. Rather than portraying the spirits of those buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery we portray the living, breathing people of the era who were left behind to mourn the loss of a loved one.

The tour will include a reenactment of a 19th century burial service and a short walking tour of the Lindell section of the cemetery

Find out more about the Mourning Society

Bellefontaine Cemetery

Image courtesy of Curt Dennison

Experience the Campbell House period rooms dimmed to gaslight brightness and draped for mourning. Guests get the rare opportunity to walk through the Campbell House at night and learn about 19th century funeral customs and mourning.

The tour begins with Robert Campbell's 1879 wake in the parlor and continues throughout the rooms of the Campbell House covering a host of topics including mourning clothing, memorial jewelry, dying at home, post-mortem photography and more.

Find out more about the Mourning Society

The Campbell House

Image courtesy of Jennifer Perkins