During the Victorian era (1837-1901), mourning was a complex and intricate social ritual. When a loved one passed away, families would embark on a elaborate and expensive journey to honor their deceased. Keep in mind that these stages were flexible and influenced by social class, personal preference, and regional customs. Mourning fashion was a complex language, conveying respect, status, and emotional state. | Asta Darling

The soft coo of a Mourning Dove seems to bring a lot of you back to those childhood days. The Mourning Dove won in the Most Nostalgic category in our bird Grammys. This common bird is easily found across most of North and Central America. They may be common, but they're far from ordinary. Here's some fun facts: During the breeding season, you might see three Mourning Doves flying in tight formation, one after another. This is a form of social display. Typically the bird in the lead is the male o

Together in life. Together in death. Together for-hair-ver. In this #TalesFromTheCollection episode, go behind the scenes with curator Neal Hurst to examine 4 mourning rings from our collection, including one containing the hair of George and Martha Washington... Then learn more about the backstory of these rings in the e-museum links below! 💍 Mourning Ring with George and Martha Washington's Hair: bit.ly/47o8atS 💍 Mourning ring with George Washington's portrait: bit.ly/3WN7wB5 💍 Mourning Rin