Did you know that NoHo’s own Merchant’s House Museum is the most haunted house in Manhattan? Dive deep into the haunted history of this ghastly spot all month long with their roster of events, including candlelit ghost tours, cryptic songs, 19th century burial customs and much more. The full calendar of events, including descriptions, is below. Click here for more on their events and to buy tickets.
Opens Thursday, October 13
Exhibition – Death, Mourning, and the Hereafter in Mid-19th Century New York
Including 19th century mourning attire and accessories from the Tredwell Collection.
In March 1865, family patriarch Seabury Tredwell died in his upstairs bedroom; his wake and funeral were held in the double parlor, shrouded in black crepe. Grief was not unique to the Tredwell family that year. The Civil War had ended, with more than 600,000 dead, and President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination plunged the nation into a period of unprecedented public mourning. The overwhelming sense of grief and loss led to heightened interest in Spiritualism, as survivors attempted to contact their dearly departed through seances and mediums.
Poignant scenes throughout the house explore 19th century customs surrounding death, a time, unlike today, when death and mourning were pervasive and integral parts of life; dying and funerals took place at home; rituals of mourning helped the bereaved cope with the ever-present anguish of death; and Spiritualism offered hope of a Hereafter. Included with regular admission; reservations not required.
Wednesday, October 19, 6 p.m.
‘Death Cannot Make Our Souls Afraid’: 19th Century Mourning Customs
A Virtual Talk with Museum Historian Ann Haddad
Grief was more than just an emotion for Americans during the 19th century — it was a way of life. The moment Seabury Tredwell drew his last breath, in March 1865, his family put into motion an elaborate system of mourning customs that both announced their grief to the community and provided some measure of release from their suffering.
Join Museum Historian Ann Haddad to explore the origins and significance of these somber yet comforting rituals, from widows’ weeds and crepe-draped mirrors to corpse coolers and funeral biscuits. Free (suggested donation $10); register for “Death Cannot Make Our Souls Afraid.”
Friday, October 21, 6:30 p.m.
In the Spirit of Science: Researching the Paranormal Using the Scientific Method
Virtual Program
October’s Halloween Special: “My Favorite Hauntings”
Join paranormal investigator Dan Sturges, thanatologist Matilda Garrido, and neuroscientist Dr. Lee as they continue to dive deeper into observing the paranormal at work in the material world and the hallowed halls of the Merchant’s House! Dan will share some of his favorite (and spine-chilling) paranormal experiences with Dr. Lee and Matilda and take questions from the audience. Dr. Lee will offer a basic tutorial on how to build your own ghost-detecting machine at home.
In the Spirit of Science is an ongoing virtual program about ground-breaking paranormal research, that began in 2020, when the Museum closed due to COVID-19. Through unbiased observation and systematic experimentation, this research is building a better understanding of the strange and fascinating phenomena observed at the Merchant’s House.
The project is led by neuroscientist Dr. Lee and Dan Sturges, founder of Sturges Paranormal, who appears on the Travel Channel’s weekly series, Paranormal Caught on Camera. He has performed investigations at the Merchant’s House – and documented his spine-chilling findings – since 2007. Thanatologist Matilda Garrido joins Dan and Dr. Lee to discuss their research findings.
FREE (suggested donation $10); register for “In the Spirit of Science.”
Sunday, October 23, 1 to 5 p.m.
Step Back in Time: The 1865 Death & Wake of Seabury Tredwell
In the 19th century, death and funerals took place at home. After a death, the family held a viewing period, or wake, which lasted a few days before the funeral and burial. The wake gave friends and neighbors an opportunity to pay their respects to the deceased and give comfort to the bereaved family, deep in mourning.
1 to 5 p.m.: Take a self-guided tour and view the special house-wide exhibition, Death, Mourning, and the Hereafter, which includes mourning costumes and accessories from the Tredwell collection. Docents are available to answer questions.
2 to 4 p.m.: Pay your respects to Tredwell family members (portrayed by costumed interpreters) in the period rooms as they talk about Seabury’s last days, share the plans for his funeral, and discuss their lengthy mourning period.
19th century mourning attire encouraged. Included with regular admission; no reservations. Last entry 4:30 p.m.
ONLY FOUR NIGHTS!
Wednesday, October 26, Thursday, October 27; Friday, October 28; Saturday, October 29
In-Person CANDLELIGHT GHOST TOURS of Manhattan’s Most Haunted House
50 minute tours run every half hour, 6:30 to 10 p.m.
Doors slam, floorboards creak, voices call into the dead of night. Venture into “Manhattan’s Most Haunted House” by flickering candlelight to hear chilling – and true – tales of decades of otherworldly activity in the house, the results of years of paranormal investigations – and the latest stunning scientific findings.
45; $35 MHM Members. Purchase tickets for Candlelight Ghost Tours.
MEMBERS: enter code GHOST at checkout to receive the discounted Member price. Become a Member.
Wednesday, October 26; Thursday, October 27; Friday, October 28; Saturday, October 29, 10:30 p.m.
In-Person SUPER SPOOKY CANDLELIGHT GHOST TOURS with PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR DAN STURGES
In 2020, the museum closed due to COVID-19, leaving the house empty of staff and visitors. Dan Sturges, who has undertaken paranormal investigations at the Merchant’s House for 15 years, teamed up with neuroscientist Dr. Lee to conduct scientific research using specialized equipment custom-built for the house. Mounting fact-based evidence points to the very likely reality of paranormal activity at the Merchant’s House. Join Dan and decide for yourself.
Join paranormal investigator Dan Sturges on a 90-minute In-Person Super Spooky Candlelight Ghost Tour for an in-depth look at the latest research and findings. Dan is the founder of Sturges Paranormal and appears on the Travel Channel’s weekly series, Paranormal Caught on Camera. He has performed investigations at the Merchant’s House – and documented his spine-chilling findings – since 2007.
$65; $55 MHM Members. Purchase tickets for the SUPER SPOOKY Ghost Tour.
MEMBERS: enter code SPOOKY at checkout to receive the discounted Member price. Become a Member.
Halloween Night! Monday, October 31, 7 p.m.
Chant Macabre: Songs from the Crypt
Halloween Concert with the Bond Street Euterpean Singing Society
In-Person & Virtually
Ghosts, ghouls, and goblins haunt the lyrics of 19th-century songs. Come be spooked by these harrowing tales as the Bond Street Euterpean Singing Society bewitches your imagination and sings shivers down your spine, echoing sumptuous, rarely performed songs in an authentic period parlor. Singers Anthony Bellov, Amy Gluck, Jane Elizabeth Rady, and Dayle Vander Sande. Music by Schubert, Liszt, Debussy, Duparc, Loewe, Mussorgsky, Humperdinck, and others. 75 minutes.
This performance will be presented both in-person and virtually.
In-person tickets $30, $20 MHM Members; purchase IN-PERSON tickets for “Chant Macabre.”
Capacity strictly limited. Masks and proof of vaccination are required.
Virtual livestream tickets $20, $15 MHM Members; purchase VIRTUAL tickets for “Chant Macabre.”
Ticketholders will be emailed a downloadable PDF with a link to view to the livestream.
