Classic Christmas

The weekend of December 1st and 2nd the Museum will be open 1pm – 4pm for special tours through the decorated period rooms.  Macculloch Hall Historical Museum will be decorated for the holidays in traditional style by the Garden Club of Morristown; this gorgeous historic home provides a lovely setting to kick off the holiday season in luxurious surroundings. The home features the museum's collection of holiday-themed original artwork by caricaturist Thomas Nast. Nast, a well-known political cartoonist who popularized the Democratic Donkey and the Republican Elephant, also contributed to America’s contemporary image of Santa Claus.  Visitors will find more than thirty of Thomas 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. 

See the decorations, Christmas exhibit Home for the Holidays featuring antique ornaments and toys, iconic Thomas Nast Christmas images and enjoy tours of the period rooms dressed with greenery for the holiday.  Find unique gifts created just for the museum's expanded holiday shop.  Special items include Thomas Nast Christmas cards and ornaments, along with other traditional toys and unique stocking stuffers.  Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy the upstairs gallery exhibit which in past years has included holiday ornaments and toys on loan from private collectors, as well as holiday-themed Thomas Nast artwork; the exhibit theme and content changes each year so there is always something new to see!  The Christmas exhibit and holiday decorations will be on view during open hours in December and January on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 1pm – 4pm; please visit the website for holiday closings.

At 4:30pm on Sunday December 2nd join us for holiday music when “The Early Music Players” perform “Carols and Capers: A Music Celebration from the Olde and New Worlds” which celebrates the season with a collection of beautifully performed holiday music from various countries spanning the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods (1300's - 1700's). The Players will appear in historical costume and will perform with a variety of period reproduction wind and string instruments, such as the flute, recorder, gemshorn, krummhorn, viola da gamba and more. 

Join us later in the month on Sunday  December 16th, 4:30pm when F.M. Kirby Curator Ryan Hyman as he presents “Thomas Nast’s Historical Icons” to learn more about nineteenth century political cartoonist Thomas Nast including his popularization of the modern day image of Santa Claus. Tickets available on the day of the program, no advance sales.  Please visit maccullochhall.org for full details and ticket pricing.

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 20th 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. 

Image attached: MHHM_Classic Christmas Tour Docent_2012_Courtesy of Stan Freeny