Christmas at the Mansions
December 12, 2015 |
December 12th Christmas at the Mansions
2-5 p.m. or 5-8 p.m. Tickets $12 in advance, $15 day of event
The very popular Bloomington-Normal annual holiday event, "Christmas at the Mansions," featuring tours of David Davis Mansion, Ewing Manor, and a third secret location being described this year as a "mystery Christmas cottage," will be held on Saturday, December 12th.
The 36-room David Davis Mansion, built in 1872 for Supreme Court justice and Abraham Lincoln friend and advisor David Davis and his wife Sarah, offers a dazzling look at Victorian-era Christmas traditions. The Mansion features the toys, foods and customs common in the late 1800s. Fourteen sumptuously decorated trees grace the Mansion's rooms, each echoing a different theme of the times. A four-foot-tall Victorian feather tree displays delicate glass ornaments handmade by the same artist as those featured on the Christmas tree in the popular PBS television series, "Downton Abbey."
Ewing Manor - Bloomington's only "castle" - built for Spencer Ewing and his wife Hazle Buck Ewing, takes visitors back to the Edwardian era in the earliest years of the 20th century. The private bedrooms and office once occupied by the Ewing family have been completely restored and will be decorated for Christmas. Visitors will enjoy the dramatic view from the picturesque spiral staircase as they move from one level to the other. The Manor also features special outdoor lighting during the evening.
This year's third location, the "mystery Christmas cottage," is sure to delight visitors with its festive holiday decor throughout!
Tickets are non-refundable, and are $12 in advance, beginning November 1st at Casey's Garden Shop, The Garlic Press, Schnucks Supermarkets, the David Davis Mansion and online at www.daviddavismansion.org. Tickets the day of the event will be $15 at the door. Tickets will be available only until sold out.
Shuttle buses will transport visitors continuously to all three tour locations during both sessions. Visitors may begin either at the Davis Mansion grounds at 1000 Monroe Drive, Bloomington, IL, or in the St. John's Lutheran Church parking lot, 1617 E. Emerson Street, across from Ewing Manor, Bloomington. Directions and maps to all three mansions will be available at Ewing Manor and the Davis Mansion.
Funds raised by the tour will benefit educational programming at both Ewing Manor and David Davis Mansion, and a community charity chosen by the owner of the mystery cottage.
For more information on the event, please call the David Davis Mansion at 309-828-1084 or visit www.ChristmasAtTheMansions.com.
Ewing Cultural Center is owned and operated by Illinois State University Foundation. The David Davis Mansion State Historic Site is administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. The event is co-sponsored by the not-for-profit David Davis Mansion Foundation.
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Website:
www.daviddavismansion.org |
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Location Information |
David Davis Mansion State Historic Site |
1000 E Monroe Dr Bloomington, IL 61701 |
Website:
www.daviddavismansion.org |
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Contact Information |
Email:
davismansion@yahoo.com |
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