Views from National Christmas Center, Christmas Museum and Family Attraction

Views from National Christmas Center, Christmas Museum and Family Attraction
Christmas Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

New Exhibits - Progress Report

Construction is continuing on two new exhibits, expected to open this month.

I love "A 1950's Christmas" - a trip down memory lane for those who grew up in that era. Two little children are peeking out from a stairway, where they see Santa Claus, drinking a soda in front of their fireplace. There are an old chrome and red vinyl kitchen table set and vintage kitchen appliances visible through the "doorway" that leads from this living room scene, and the table is complete with a Christmas turkey in a roasting pan.

Remember bubble lights? The tree is going to be decorated with them and all those ticky-tacky plastic ornaments that seemed to define that time period. Of course, we're setting up a train set to run underneath the tree. Early American (ugh) furniture will round out the living room and add to the authenticity.

This is inspired by an old Coca Cola Santa ad, made popular by Haddon Sundblom (don't quote me on the spelling). Judy Murtagh, from the American Christmas Museum, is the original designer of this exhibit.

The other exhibit, "Street of Memories", continues to develop as it is being built. The department store windows will include an extensive Hummel display, on loan from Dallas Krapf. Vinyl records (try explaining to your kids what those are!) will take up another window, and the rest... we will have to wait and see what Jim decides. He certainly has plenty to choose from. :)

Walk from "Nazareth" to "Bethlehem" in The First Christmas

Walk from "Nazareth" to "Bethlehem" in The First Christmas
Life-sized figures and realistic scenery transport you back in time over 2000 years. Journey with Mary and Joseph. See a typical home of the time and a humble carpenter's shop. Navigate through a caravansary - an oasis marketplace, a rest stop for weary travelers. Experience the dangers of the journey, and be awed by the appearance of a glowing angel. Hear Latin and Aramaic being spoken, and listen to the music of the time. Join the shepherds' trek and at the end of the journey, in a humble grotto, behold the birth of Christ.