Thomas Nast's Historical Icons- including Santa!

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Ave, Morristown, NJ | Get Directions »
$8.00

On Sunday December 16th join Macculloch Hall Historical Museum’s F.M Kirby Curator Ryan Hyman as he presents "Thomas Nast's Historical Icons". Mr. Hyman will discuss Thomas Nast (1840-1902) who is known as the Father of American Political Cartoons.  Nast is most famous for popularizing the images of the Democratic Donkey, Republican Elephant, Uncle Sam and Santa Claus among others.  He is also known for his political cartoons which he created for Harper’s Weekly for about a twenty-five year period from the early 1860s through the mid-1880s. Learn more about Nast’s depiction of these iconic images as well as his popularization of the modern day image of Santa Claus at this special seasonal presentation.

During December and January the Museum is featuring its extensive collection of holiday-themed original artwork by caricaturist Thomas Nast.  Visitors will find more than thirty of Nast’s original Santa and Christmas images throughout the museum’s galleries and period rooms. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum has the largest collection of Nast originals in the nation.  Mr. Hyman’s program will be presented in the school room gallery where vivid examples of the antique Oriental rug collection are being showcased complemented by textbook examples of fine porcelain, silver, glass and furniture collected by Museum founder, W. Parsons Todd.  “A Fine Collection: Treasures from the Vault” has a perimeter layout which leaves the center of the room open for a series of speakers and musical programming taking place in conjunction with the exhibit.  Musical programs take place on the first Sunday of the month at 4:30pm and speakers on the third Sunday of the month through June (no programs in January).

Tickets for Sunday programs will go on sale from 1pm on the day of the program, no advance sales.  The presentation begins at 4:30pm.  House tours (regular admission applies) take place throughout the afternoon, the last tour leaves at 3pm. The upstairs galleries will remain open until 4:30pm however the “A Fine Collection” exhibit will close at 3pm in preparation for the program. Tickets to hear speakers are Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 – 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are free. Speaker tickets include admission to take part in a house tour through the period rooms of the Museum, which are decorated for the holidays,  if visitors arrive during the afternoon and sign up to tour.  Visitors can also find unique gifts in the museum's expanded holiday shop, including a number of items with Nast’s Santa Claus image, and have the opportunity to enjoy the upstairs gallery exhibit Home for the Holidays which includes holiday ornaments and toys on loan from private collectors.  For further information please visit maccullochhall.org

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum preserves the history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections, exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. It is located in the heart of Morristown’s National Historic District. The Museum is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The last tickets for admission are sold at 3 p.m.  Admission is $8 Adults; $6 Seniors; Children 6 – 12 years $4, Children 5 years and under and Museum members are free.  The Museum closes for the holiday break at 4pm on Thursday December 20^th and reopens for tours at 1pm on Wednesday January 2nd 2013.  For information, call the Museum weekdays at (973) 538-2404, visit our website www.maccullochhall.org or find us on Facebook.  Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is a nonprofit educational affiliate of the W. Parsons Todd Foundation. 

Images attached: F M Kirby Curator Ryan Hyman _Courtesy of Stan Freeny & Santa Claus Thomas Nast c.1890 Oil on papier-mâché Collection of Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, Morristown, NJ