4th Annual Candlelight Mourning Tour

Step softly, dear guest, for the house of Dr. Meux is not quite as it appears in the daylight. On Thursday, October 23, the Meux Home Museum will once again dim its lamps and open its doors for the 4th Annual Candlelight Mourning Tour.

From 6:00 p.m. until the final tour at 8:40 p.m., groups of no more than 10 will be guided by flickering candlelight through the rooms of this Victorian home. Along the way you will encounter the curious traditions of mourning that once shaped nineteenth century households. Black crepe upon doorways, mirrors covered in fabric, portraits adorned with tokens of grief, each detail meant to honor the departed and protect the living.

The Victorians carried sorrow with ceremony. A widow’s veil could stretch for yards, a child’s lock of hair might be preserved in jewelry, and mourning attire was worn as a visible mark of loss. These rituals, both tender and uncanny, may feel strangely distant and yet familiar to us today.

Do not mistake this event for a frightful spectacle. No phantoms will leap from the shadows. What you will find is something far more intriguing: a quiet step into the past, an intimate look at how families once faced grief in candlelit rooms much like these.

All proceeds from this event directly support the preservation of the Meux Home Museum, Fresno’s last surviving Victorian treasure. By joining us, you not only step into history, you help keep it alive for generations to come.

The candles are lit, the rooms are waiting. Will you step inside?

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, October 23
• Time: Tours start at 6:00 p.m. and run every 20 minutes until 8:40 p.m. Reservations required
• Price: $20 per guest
• Tickets: Must be purchased below, no sales at the door