Spiritualism in the 19th Century

Spiritualism in the 19th Century is a program on the belief that departed souls could communicate with the living, which exploded in popularity in the late 19th century. It is hosted by Gateway National Recreation Area of the U.S. National Park Service and takes place in the historic Mont Sec house in a period accurate setting. The program explores how the belief grew from the shadows of the Civil War, the advances in technology and mass media that helped it spread, and its role in the Suffrage movement. Parlors across America hosted seances led by mediums, and respected figures like Arthur Conan Doyle, Mary Todd Lincoln, Thomas Edison and Mark Twain attempted to contact the spirit world.