Celebrate an Old-Fashioned Christmas at Hildene!

Step back in time, with a visit to Hildene in Manchester, Vermont. From December 4 – 29, the Lincoln family home is cheerfully decorated as though it were Christmas Eve 1912 — one of three dates Mary and Robert Lincoln were in residence for the holidays at their beloved Hildene.   

 

As guests make their way up the snowy path to the house from the Welcome Center in the historic carriage barn, they may very well hear the magnificent swell of Christmas carols emanating from the more than 900 pipes of the family’s grand Aeolian organ. Opening the front door, they will be greeted by a 10’ tall Christmas tree, laden with strings of beads and popcorn, vintage ornaments and candles. The scent of balsam fills the air, as fresh greens adorn every room and fires crackle in the fireplaces. On weekends, talented musicians play both the organ and Steinway piano while guests stroll through the house at their leisure. (A schedule can be found at hildene.org.) 

 

In each room, it appears as though someone from the household has only just stepped out of the room. In the staff dining room, for example, they have been busy stringing popcorn and cranberries, making ornaments, and playing games while waiting for pies to cool in the kitchen across the hall. In the grandchildren’s room, Bud has been decorating his own little tree and making figures for the manger scene on his mantel piece. Mary has been answering Christmas cards while her daughters have been catching up over tea and gingerbread cookies in her upstairs parlor.  

 

Guests will want to save time to visit other destinations on the 412-acre estate and to shop for unique holiday gifts in The Museum Store. Filled with locally-made products, the store also features antiques, jewelry, and many items made on Hildene’s own farm. There are felted soaps, knitting kits, skeins of wool, jars of honey and maple syrup, and so much more. There are also books on history, gardening, regenerative agriculture, and the natural world. The Museum Store’s children's section has activity books, games, kits on everything from bees and bugs to environmental science and sustainability.

 

Hildene is open from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Thursday through Monday. While admission is required to tour the home and property, it is not required to visit The Museum Store. Hildene is closed December 23, 24, and 25 and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

 

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home, built in 1905, was Mary and Robert Lincoln’s summer home. Robert was Abraham Lincoln’s sole heir to survive to adulthood. Preserved by the non-profit Friends of Hildene, Inc., the estate boasts an historic Georgian Revival home, formal and production gardens, working farm and cheesemaking facility, restored 1903 Pullman railcar, floating wetland boardwalk, and 12 miles of hiking trails. The site is on The National Register of Historic Places and is open year-round. For more information and calendar listings, visit www.hildene.org.