The Alice T. Miner Museum (known as The Alice) in Chazy, Clinton County, NY, will be embracing the holiday spirit this season with a Victorian Christmas celebration including festive decorations, traditional treats, and more, including four new holiday programs plus some old favorites.
Visitors can take a candlelight tour and learn more about the history of Christmas traditions, bring the little ones to Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus, be creative with their holiday ornament and centerpiece workshops, and enjoy food, wine, music, and conversation at Alice’s Elegant Evening Social.
The Alice season will officially begin on Saturday, November 25 with a Holiday Open House, between 2 and 4 pm, including the big reveal of the museum’s decorations, informal tours, and seasonal refreshments.
For Alice and William Miner, Christmas offered the opportunity to embody a spirit of generosity and fellowship and renew connections with family and friends near and far.
Every year the Miners sent out lavishly illustrated Christmas cards and calendars featuring scenes from their Chazy home, Heart’s Delight Farm, along with gifts of turkeys, maple syrup, and other farm products. They treasured the hundreds of cards they received in return, which are preserved in the collection of the Museum.
Perhaps the highlight of the holiday season was the Christmas party for farm employees and their families, at which every child received a toy purchased at Marshall Field & Co. in Chicago.
In the spirit of Alice and William Miner, all of the museum’s holiday programming will be offered to the community free of charge. The museum will be collecting donations of toys, which will be distributed to families in need through the United Way of the Adirondack Region.
Event attendees are encouraged to consider making a donation. Monetary or toy donations will be collected at the museum.
Visit minermuseum.org for more details about these events. Some programs require advance registration due to space limitations. The museum will also be open to visitors through December 23. Tours are given Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm; reservations are not required.
Contact Leni Vradelis at programs@minermuseum.org or 518-846-7336 with any inquiries.
Holiday Open House, Saturday, November 25, 2 to 4 pm
Help kick-off the holiday season and get a first look at the museum’s festive decorations. Drop by for an informal tour and seasonal refreshments.
Candlelight Tours, December 1, 7, and 9 at 6 pm
Experience the Alice by candlelight with an evening tour that illuminates the history of Christmas customs from the colonial era to the early 20th century. From the austerity of Puritan New England to the lavish entertainments at Heart’s Delight Farm, the museum’s period rooms will take you through two centuries of holiday celebrations.
Holiday Ornament Workshop, Saturday, December 2, 1 to 4 pm
At the Burke Education and Research Center and the Miner Institute join forces for this early December tradition, now in its tenth year. Materials and instructions will be provided for a variety of handmade ornaments, along with hot chocolate, cookies, and plenty of holiday cheer.
Make a Holiday Centerpiece, Wednesday, December 12 at 6 pm
Use natural materials to create a beautiful focal point for your Christmas table. Birch logs, greenery, and more come together to make a candleholder centerpiece that will provide a bright spot in the dark of winter.
Alice’s Elegant Evening Social, Thursday, December 14, 5 to 7 pm
Enjoy a glass of wine and light hors d’oeuvres against the backdrop of the Alice’s festive Christmas decorations. Guests will be welcome to take an informal tour of the museum and socialize in a beautiful, peaceful setting while enjoying seasonal musical accompaniment.
Story Time with Santa, Saturday, December 16 at 3 pm.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be making a special visit to the Alice to read a Christmas story and give gifts to good little boys and girls.
Established in 1924, the Alice T. Miner Museum houses a rich collection of Early American furniture, textiles, ceramics, and other decorative arts. The twelve period rooms of this reconstructed 1820s stone building offer a glimpse into Alice Miner’s vision of the past and the Colonial Revival movement of the early twentieth century.
The Alice T. Miner Museum is open May through December from 10 am to 4 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Learn more about The Alice by visiting www.minermuseum.org.
Illustration: A Miner Christmas Greetings card, 1913 (Alice T Miner Museum).
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