-
First appearance (1840s)
Spiritualism first appeared in the 1840s in the "Burned-over District" of upstate New York This region of New York State was an environment in which many thought direct communication with God or angels was possible -
The Fox sisters of Hydesville (1848)
The Fox sisters of Hydesville, New York, claim to communicate with the spirit of a murdered peddler through rapping sounds. This event marks the beginning of the Spiritualist movement. -
The Spread of Spiritualism (1850s-1870s)
Spiritualism spreads throughout the United States and Europe, attracting followers who seek to communicate with deceased loved ones and explore spiritual phenomena. -
Becoming Official
The Spiritualist movement officially forms as a religious organization with the founding of the National Spiritualist Association of Churches. -
The Peak of Spiritualism (1880s-1920s)
Spiritualism reaches its peak in popularity, with thousands of Spiritualist churches and camps across the United States and Europe.