“Victorian Days”
The 2nd half of he 19th Century saw major changes in transportation, medical practices, fashion, household conveniences, jobs, and more as the Industrial Revolution’s inventions and innovations changed everyone’s lifestyle.
View different aspects of life in the late 1800s through the lens of the gold mining town of Jacksonville, Oregon, and the Beekman family, the town’s most prominent and wealthiest pioneers!
These popular tours at Jacksonville’s historic 1870s C.C. Beekman House Museum look at the dramatic changes in life during the late 1800s Industrial Revolution along with the lingering social expectations that continued to influence adoption of these changes.
The Beekman House Museum is located at 470 E. California Street. Tours will begin every 20 minutes starting at 12n with the last tour beginning at 3pm. Tour groups are limited to 8 people and 10 tours are offered each day.
Tours are $10 per person and reservations are required. Tour size is capped at 10 people. Walk-ups will be accommodated on a “space available” basis.
June 21 – “Travel in the Victorian Era”
Americans were on the move during the second half of the 19th Century! In the span of 50 years, transportation options advanced from horseback, wagon or buggy, stagecoach, and sailing ship, to railroad, steamship and automobile. And Jacksonville’s pioneer Beekman family experienced them all! View antique cars and learn about the rapid changes in transportation during the late 1800s when the Rogue Valley Model A’s join Historic Jacksonville for “Travel in the Victorian Age.”
July 19 – “Victorian Medical Practices”
Did you know that Coca Cola was initially marketed as a brain tonic, since its original cocaine based formula was a “stimulant”? Or that Lydia Pinkham’s, that popular Victorian nerve tonic, was heavy on opium? Doctors lacked formal medical education; hospitals were virtually non-existent; narcotics, alcohol, and poisons were the base of most medicines; and the “cure” was often worse than the cause! Costumed docents share local health care available in the late 1800s, stories of Beekman family health issues and “cures,” and sanitation measures adopted.
August 16 – “Victorian Hobbies and Crafts”
Those crafty Victorians! The Industrial Revolution meant increased leisure time for most upper and middle class Victorians, but leisure did not mean idleness. To forestall the mischief that Satan found for idle hands, you were expected to use your leisure time to pursue something useful and productive—that was also recuperative and relaxing! In other words, you found a hobby. Victorian costumed docents will talk about popular hobbies of the late 1800s—sports, games, dog breeding, music, art and more—and the Beekmans’ personal activities, collections, and crafts.
September 20 & 21
“Victorian Fashion: The Well Dressed Victorian”
No clothing style in history is as popular as Victorian Era fashion! Learn what the well dressed Victorian wore for the multiple activities of the day. Each room of the house will feature docents and mannequins costumed in appropriate styles from the Civil War to the early 1900s depicting fashions for social calls, travel, daytime activities, formal dinners, mourning, country outings, servants, undergarments, and more. Docents will share information on their particular clothing style, its evolution, and the garments being showcased.
October 18 & 19 and October 25 & 26
“Victorian Mourning Customs: Honoring the Dearly Departed”
Victorians created elaborate rituals around the passing of a loved one. The house will be decorated as a Victorian house in mourning—clocks stopped, mirrors draped in black, mourning wreath on the door, coffin in the parlor. Costumed docents will share the fashions, home décor, funeral etiquette, social behavior, and personal mementos that honored the dearly departed in the late 1800s.
Purchase Tickets
To purchase tickets, choose from the drop down menus below, click the down arrow to select your tour date and time, then add it to your cart. Once in your cart, specify the number of tickets you wish to buy. If you are on a smart phone, you may need to rotate your view to landscape to see all the options.
If you do not have a PayPal account, you can check out as a guest!
(If you receive a “Sold Out” message, please call 541-245-3650 to determine availability. Refunds or exchanges are not available on the day of the event.)
And be sure to check in 5 minutes before your tour. At that time any unclaimed reservations will be offered to “walk ups.” Walk ups will be accommodated based on space available.
DISCLAIMER: All tour attendees do so at their own risk and waive any liability claims against Historic Jacksonville, Inc. or any volunteer. This includes illness and injury, as well as loss, damage or theft of property. Historic Jacksonville, Inc. reserves the right to refuse admission or eject persons at any time.