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How Victorians Invented Christmas


  • Hearthstone Historic House Museum 625 W. Prospect Avenue Appleton, WI 54911 USA (map)

Join Hearthstone’s Executive Director George Schroeder on a special tour that explores how almost every one of today’s popular secular holiday traditions - from decorating trees to sending cards to eating turkey dinner - started in the Victorian Era. The tours, offered on Fridays and Saturdays from Dec 6 to Dec 28 at 11 am and 2 pm each day, are 80 minutes in length and visit each room of the residence focusing on the lavish holiday decorations which bring to life the finest in Victorian Christmas celebrations.

Each guest will also receive, as a small holiday gift from Hearthstone, recipe cards featuring favorite Victorian Christmas fare as well as a booklet detailing the museum’s 2024 theme (which is a secret for now!).

Tickets are available exclusively on-line on the museum’s website starting in November. Please note that last year’s tours sold out very quickly.

Please see the Events and Special Tours page for details and tickets.

Earlier Event: November 30
Victorian Christmas: Traditions
Later Event: December 14
Edison and Christmas Lights