Sequential Killers of the Victorian Age - Season Nine

FRIDAYS AND SATURDAY EVENINGS IN OCTOBER

First Tours start at 6:00 pm and then again every 20 minutes

Performances are one hour long.

$23 each, members for 2026 receive a 15% rebate at the door.

Hearthstone’s most popular event is back and more chilling than ever in this new theatrical performance that brings you face-to-face with real-life Victorian serial killers.

Vignettes in each room of the museum bring to life (so to speak) sequential killers - they weren’t called serial killers at the time - and their nefarious deeds. As you tour the historic mansion decorated according to Victorian mourning traditions led by Victorian police detectives, you will meet the killers and their victims, hearing their tales of maliciousness and murder. Based on the newspaper accounts of the day, the scenes tell of villains, victims, and the beginnings of our fascination with true crime.

Death was so commonplace that it permeated every aspect of Victorian life and led to a morbid fascination with the macabre and elaborate rituals to commemorate the dead. Ticket holders for Sequential Killers will be able to explore Victorian ideas on death and mourning in two special exhibits included in the ticket price.

First, the entire house is decorated according to Victorian norms including windows and mirrors draped in black, clocks stopped at the time of death of a loved one, photos overturned, and a casket on display in the parlor.

Second, prior to the tour, guests can view exhibits of Victorian memento mori (items made to remind the living of the dead) including jewelry made from the departed loved one’s hair, post-mortem photography, and other funeral items - all on loan from the remarkable Loomis Family Collection. Mourning clothing, which was highly regimented, is also on display.

Each new season brings to life a new cast of real-life murderers. This year’s production features new retellings of two famous killers, one with a direct connection to Hearthstone.

Be a part of the show…

Guests are encouraged become part of the show by wearing their finest Victorian costumes, especially as Halloween approaches.

Performances are presented every Friday and Saturday night in October starting from 6:00 pm to 8:40 pm. Tours are scheduled every twenty minutes starting on the hour and are about 60 minutes long.

Tickets are $23 each and available only through the ticketing button below.

Please note:

  • Because of the dark subject matter, this event is for ages 13 years and older. No one 12 or under will be admitted. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

  • To fully participate in the tour, guests must be able to climb a set of stairs from the lower level to the first floor and a long set of stairs to the second floor.

  • The parking lot fills up quickly with these tours but there is ample free parking one half block away from the museum on State Street.

  • Because of high demand for this event and the potential for overcrowding, all tours tickets must be purchased on-line through this website.

  • Tickets are for specific dates and entry times as listed on every confirmation email (please make sure that your email address is accurate when buying tickets).

  • Your confirmation email is the only form of ticketing you will receive. Conformation emails are sent automatically by the system. Check other folders if your email does not arrive in your inbox within minutes of your purchase.

  • Unfortunately, our ticketing system does not permit tickets to be changed or refunded after the purchase is made.

  • Tickets MUST be used for their stated times and dates. Unfortunately, there can be no exceptions.

Tickets for specific dates can sell out quickly.

Click to purchase tickets for…

October 2 October 3
October 9 October 10
October 16 October 17
October 23 October 24
October 30 October 31