08/13/2026
Historic Jacksonville, Inc. is pulling out all the quilts for our Beekman House Victorian Hobbies & Crafts tours on Saturday, August 15. These are the 1-hour guided tours where we share how upper and middle-class Victorians used the leisure time that was a by-product of the 19th century Industrial Revolution. But leisure time did not mean idleness! To forestall the mischief that Satan found for idle hands, you were expected to pursue something useful and productive that was also recuperative and relaxing. In other words, you found a hobby.
The Beekmans were Jacksonville's wealthiest and most prominent pioneer family. They were skilled and talented, and they traveled extensively, collecting souvenirs from around the world. Quilts, needlework, art glass, crafts, collections, and souvenirs, will be on display. We'll also be talking about the origins of organized sports like baseball and college football, the invention of the bicycle, how Darwin's theory of evolution encouraged nature lovers, how dog breeding became a Victorian passion, and much, much more!
Tours begin every 20 minutes from 12n through 3pm at the 1870s Beekman House Museum located at 470 E. California St. in Jacksonville. Admission is $10; tour size is capped; reservations are encouraged; and all proceeds benefit Jacksonville historic restoration projects. Reservations can be made at https://historicjacksonville.org/victorian-theme-tours/.
