Victorian Horror Stories Come Alive in an Immersive Experience

I am utterly fascinated with the Victorian era, so when I got wind of an event called Victorian Horror Stories in the Dark, I had to check it out. The immersive experience was presented by the creators of the podcast Terrifying True Stories and took place at Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles. The evening included four haunting tales staged in four different Victorian manors.

First, let me tell you a bit about Heritage Square Museum. It spans across several acres and houses eight historic structures that date back to the late 19^th/early 20^th centuries. While the buildings are all native to LA, this site is not their original location. The homes were acquired from different areas of the city and brought to this part of town to establish the museum. The organization hosts various functions throughout the year to fund their restoration efforts.  Spooky events of all kinds are very popular here, and this was my first time attending one at Heritage Square.

Since I had never been to the area before, finding the museum was interesting. When the navigation on my phone said I had arrived at my destination, I was a bit confused. I found myself in an average looking neighborhood and there were no Victorian homes in sight. I parked and proceeded to walk down the block. As I neared the end, mist filled the air and a large lot of land came into view. Before me was a majestic iron gate with a sign that read, “Welcome Mortals.” Beyond, I could see historic houses and hear chilling music.

The experience was divided into different time slots to keep the groups intimate when walking through the homes. The event commenced at The Witch’s Circle. Fellow attendees and I gathered around an old railroad car that had billows of smoke emanating from all sides. We were greeted by Undertaker Salem who hinted at what was in store for the night.

As part of the ritual, he performed a classic feat—walking on glass. He plucked a woman from the audience and had her break a bottle. After he jumped a few times on the shards, he invited her to do the same. She hesitated at first and seemed nervous. Our macabre ringleader reassured her that pain is merely an illusion of the mind. To my surprise, she took a leap and pounced on the sharp pieces a few times. She was beaming. At that point, the Undertaker commented that she looked eerily familiar to which she replied that he was her dad. We all had a good laugh.

Then it was time to visit the first of four homes. This one told the story of The Vampyres of Bannerworth Manor. I loved that we started with a vampire tale. A panicked man, William Bannerworth, rushed us inside, telling us about the frightful condition afflicting a young woman named Clara. She emerged from the top of a staircase and told us about the visits from her immortal love. As we moved to another room, the narrative reached its climax with a showdown between William, Clara and the vampire Viktor.

We proceeded to the next manor, which presented the tale Dr. Blackwood’s Spring-Heeled Beast. I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the interior décor. Everything inside had been set up to transport you to the 19^th century. This was true for every house I walked through that night. Dr. Blackwood informed us of his research into a monstrous creature called Spring-Heeled Jack. He warned that the predator could sneak up on us at any moment. Just as we were ushered into another part of the mansion, the beast popped out from the stairs. It was our cue to leave.

Before venturing to the third house, we were taken on a brief tour of the grounds. This was the Victorian Trail of Terror. Our ghostly guide, Victoria, revealed the haunted history of the train station, as well as spine-tingling details about the areas we were walking through.

After, it was time to pay a visit to The Widow of Thornfield Lane. While it appeared that Eleanor Sheffield lived alone, the spirits of children keep her company. We were led by Constable Crawford who has kept a wary eye on the estate. We gathered into a parlor illuminated by faux candlelight. She told us about the tragic fates of the children and how they take refuge with her. One even revealed herself to speak with us.

There’s an interesting detail about the house that I want to mention. The Victorian manor that the widow’s tale took place in is in the shape of an octagon. The guide watching over this property informed us that the octagonal shape bears spiritual significance and that’s likely the reason why this home was constructed in this form. She also told us that some patrons have experienced strange sensations when entering the house.

The final story we would be told for the night was The Curse of The Forsyth Mummy. Inside, we were shown a variety of mysterious artifacts from different parts of the globe by auctioneer Phineas Clark. The collection belonged to the deceased owner of the estate, Cornelius Forsythe. He was an explorer who brought back various oddities, from two-headed fetuses to skin hoods. But the pièce de résistance was a preserved mummy that was more than 3,000 years old. Of course, it was cursed. Situations went awry and we were whisked out of the house for our own safety.

What a way to experience storytelling! Before I departed, I had to take another stroll around the grounds. The dimly lit manors looked majestic at dusk. There were a few spooky vendors off to one side and an ominous skeleton animatronic that made me smile. The site looked beautiful at nightfall.

I got wind that Terrifying True Stories is hosting another event during Halloween season at Heritage Square Museum. I can’t confirm anything, so make sure to follow them for updates. And this marks the end of Victorian Horror Stories in the Dark…at least for now.

Where to Stalk

Terrifying True Stories

Heritage Square Museum