Grey Roots Museum and Archives has opened Going out of Style, an original exhibit exploring funerary customs across diverse cultures, with a special focus on the Victorian era.
Featuring over 130 artefacts paired with engaging text panels and archival images, the exhibit highlights historical funeral rituals and traditions, from Egyptian mummification and Viking funerals to sky burials, Dia de los Muertos, and an in-depth study of Victorian-era customs. Visitors will discover how death rituals throughout history reflect societal values, beliefs, and traditions.
“Death is an inevitable part of life, yet the ways we respond to it vary widely across time and cultures,” says Sim Salata, Curator at Grey Roots Museum and Archives. “After the death of her beloved husband Albert, Queen Victoria elevated mourning to an elaborate art form, with strict rules, fashion, and ceremonies. This exhibit not only examines this Victorian obsession with funerary traditions but also explores customs from other periods and cultures, offering a broader perspective on how humanity commemorates life and loss.”
In Going Out in Style, death and grief are approached with thoughtful respect and sensitivity. The exhibit, like the funeral customs it explores, is a commemoration of life, affirming the shared sense of community that unites these traditions, regardless of era or culture.
Going Out in Style is on now at Grey Roots through to Wednesday, May 7, 2025. More information about the exhibit is available online here.