Last year when Historic Annapolis asked about a mourning program, I put on my thinking cap and collaborated with the Annapolis Living Historians (ALH) on it.
Out of our discussions came "Mourning and Memory: Spirits of the Paca House." Visitors stepped back in time as the ALH brought the Paca House to life with stories of loss, remembrance, and tradition. Those who came on the tour spent some time in an immersive guided tour where they traveled through different moments in the life of William Paca, and met some of the people who shaped his world. We were able to show researched vignettes on how early Americans mourned—and remembered.
We were able to research and represent the years 1766, 1774, 1775, and 1783 in four rooms of the house. We hope that this program will continue next year, and that each tour will be sold out! There was great interest in the program and each tour went through for the 2 hour event.
