Costumed members of the Society will add a delightful period atmosphere to your event as they interact with participants and guests. Trained in first and third person interpretation, members of the Society will engage in casual conversation with event attendees, providing a suitable mid-nineteenth ambience to any social event or activity. Dressed in period clothing appropriate to your event (i.e. formal, informal, evening dress, day wear), our interpreters may also be available to perform simple tasks as needed to support your event.
Appropriate for schools, social groups, fundraisers, corporate functions, retirement communities, and historic sites.
This activity is readily adaptable to school programs and can also be combined with one or more of our other activities to provide a more complete educational experience for the participants.
Presenters: Minimum of 3
Venue: Suitable theme events within thirty minutes of the Twin Cities
Program Length: Maximum of 4 hours
Availability: Evenings, weekends, and by special request
Corporate Rate: $100/hour per interpreter
Non-Profit Rate: Please inquire
Costumed members of the Society will demonstrate popular nineteenth century games appropriate for adults and/or children. The historical significance of each activity will be discussed. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a nineteenth century game with members of the Society. Popular games of the period include: Graces, Tail of the Dog, Hopscotch, Marbles, Jump Rope, Croquet, and Barnyard Animals.
- See costumed interpreters demonstrating popular mid-nineteenth century outdoor entertainments for adults and/or children
- Learn the historical significance of outdoor entertainments as they pertained to nineteenth century society
- Learn a period game
Appropriate for schools, social groups, fundraisers, corporate functions, retirement communities, and historic sites.
This activity is readily adaptable to school programs and can also be combined with one or more of our other activities to provide a more complete educational experience for the participants.
Presenters: 3—9
Venue: Large outdoor space or gymnasium required
Program Length: 30–45 minutes
Availability: Evenings, weekends, and by special request
Corporate Rate: $750–$1000, determined by number of interpreters and length of program
Non-Profit Rate: Please inquire
Costumed members of the Society will demonstrate popular nineteenth century parlor games and entertainments from a time before radio or television (or computer games) existed. The significance of parlor games and their place in nineteenth century home life will be discussed. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a nineteenth century parlor game with members of the Society.
- Watch and participate with costumed interpreters demonstrating popular mid-nineteenth century parlor games
- Learn about the significance of entertainment in the nineteenth century home environment
- Learn a period parlor game
Appropriate for schools, social groups, fundraisers, corporate functions, retirement communities, and historic sites.
This activity is readily adaptable to school programs and can also be combined with one or more of our other activities to provide a more complete educational experience for the participants.
Presenters: 4–6
Venue: Minimum performance area required is 50 square feet
Program Length: 45–60 minutes
Set-Up Time: 60 minutes
Availability: Evenings, weekends, and by special request
Corporate Rate: $400–$600, determined by number of interpreters and program length
Non-Profit Rate: Please inquire
A costumed narrator will provide an overview of mid-nineteenth century etiquette, explaining how it empowered women, and protected them as well. Changing practices will be discussed. Costumed interpreters will demonstrate various points. Depending upon the venue, the participants will be able to practice these forms of interaction amongst themselves under the tutelage of the interpreters.
- Learn about roles within the different social classes
- Learn and practice different kids of introductions and greeting
- Learn how and when different social classes were able to interact
Appropriate for schools, social groups, fundraisers, corporate functions, retirement communities, and historic sites.
This activity is readily adaptable to school programs and can also be combined with one or more of our other activities to provide a more complete educational experience for the participants.
Presenters: 3–6
Venue: 10 by 12 foot area (for larger audiences, an elevated platform is helpful)
Program Length: 30–60 minutes
Set-Up Time: 30 minutes
Availability: Evenings, weekends, and by special request
Corporate Rate: $300–$700, determined by number of interpreters and program length
Non-Profit Rate: Please inquire
A narrator will provide a brief talk about the history of dance development of the nineteenth century, as well as information about the social customs and etiquette that ruled mid-nineteenth century ballrooms. Costumed interpreters will then perform a series of popular dances of the nineteenth century. After the dance demonstration, a five-minute question and answer period will be open to the audience. The event will conclude with the costumed interpreters instructing willing participants in the basic steps of a popular dance of the period.
- Learn about the historical aspects and development of mid-nineteenth century dance
- Learn the social customs and etiquette of the nineteenth century ballroom
- See costumed interpreters demonstrate popular nineteenth century dances
- Learn a nineteenth century dance
Appropriate for schools, social groups, fundraisers, corporate functions, retirement communities, and historic sites.
This activity is readily adaptable to school programs and can also be combined with one or more of our other activities to provide a more complete educational experience for the participants.
Presenters: 3–9
Venue: Minimum performance area is 14 by 14 feet (about 200 square feet); in venues larger than 1500 square feet, a sound system is required
Program Length: 30–60 minutes
Availability: Evenings, weekends, and by special request
Corporate Rate: $750–$1500, determined by number of interpreters and program length
Non-Profit Rate: Please inquire
Members model period garments while a narrator will provide commentary of the various fashions. Ladies’ foundation garments (underclothing) will be explained and displayed on a mannequin. Audience members will have the opportunity to experience walking and sitting while wearing a hoopskirt.
- Learn the historical evolution of fashion in the mid-nineteenth century
- See examples of period fashions worn in daily life and formal occasions by men, women, and children
- Learn how mid-nineteenth societal norms and values impacted fashion design
Appropriate for schools, social groups, fundraisers, corporate functions, retirement communities, and historic sites.
This activity is readily adaptable to school programs and can also be combined with one or more of our other activities to provide a more complete educational experience for the participants.
Presenters: Minimum of 5
Venue: Minimum performance area is 14 by 14 feet (about 200 square feet), plus adjacent changing room
Program Length: 30–45 minutes
Set-Up Time: 60 minutes
Availability: Evenings, weekends, and by special request
Corporate Rate: $400–$700, determined by number of interpreters and program length
Non-Profit Rate: Please inquire
Costumed members of the Society will add atmosphere to your event by engaging in a historically accurate mid-nineteenth century picnic. Trained in first and third person interpretation, members of the Society will engage in conversation with participants, explaining the customs and practices common to al Fresco dining among the middle class in the mid-nineteenth century. Historically appropriate food presentation, menu, and dining etiquette will be demonstrated.
Appropriate for schools, social groups, fundraisers, corporate functions, retirement communities, and historic sites.
This activity is readily adaptable to school programs and can also be combined with one or more of our other activities to provide a more complete educational experience for the participants.
Presenters: Minimum of 4
Venue: Minimum performance area 10 feet square (100 square feet) per group of 4 interpreters
Program Length: Typically 1–2 hours
Set-Up Time: 1 hour
Availability: Evenings, weekends, and by special request
Corporate Rate: $500–$850, determined by number of interpreters and program length
Non-Profit Rate: Please inquire
A costumed narrator will provide an overview of the history of tea in western society. Tea will be prepared as a demonstration and served at a tea table by other costumed interpreters in proper upper class mid-nineteenth century form. Commentary will be provided concerning manners, language, the social hierarchy, and the kinds of accompaniments that would have been offered. Participants will leave this event with a working knowledge regarding the preparation of a mid-nineteenth century tea, and the rules involved. This is an excellent presentation to have before a luncheon or tea is served.
- Learn about the history of tea as a social custom
- View equipment considered necessary for tea service in the mid-nineteenth century, and learn to identify what the function of each item is and how it is properly used
- Participants will observe the preparation and serving of tea by costumed interpreters
Appropriate for schools, social groups, fundraisers, corporate functions, retirement communities, and historic sites.
This activity is readily adaptable to school programs and can also be combined with one or more of our other activities to provide a more complete educational experience for the participants.
Presenters: 2–4
Venue: 8x10 foot area, somewhat elevated for larger audiences
Program Length: 30–60 minutes
Set-Up Time: 60 minutes
Availability: Evenings, weekends, and by special request
Corporate Rate: $250–$700, determined by number of interpreters and program length
Non-Profit Rate: Please inquire