Gallery Talk: The Dark Side of Nursery Rhymes

Behind the playful characters, catchy rhythms, and familiar verses of our favorite nursery rhymes are stories that may be rooted in history, politics, social commentary — and sometimes a rather dark sense of humor.

Join Collections Director Robert A. Presnar for a fascinating trip down memory lane as we look beyond the sing-song verses to explore the stories, theories, and historical events that have become associated with familiar childhood favorites. Along the way, you'll discover some surprising interpretations of “Humpty Dumpty,” “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep,” and more — and perhaps finally find out why the cat plays the fiddle and those three blind mice lost their tails!

You may never hear your favorite nursery rhymes quite the same way again.

This gallery talk is presented in conjunction with Knock on Wood: Early American Superstitions and Taboos, a multi-room thematic exhibition in the Alex C. Hoyt Period House exploring the beliefs, customs, fears, and superstitions that shaped everyday life in early America.