Experience Christmas Traditions at Hagley Museum
WILMINGTON, DE, November 27, 2007. Hagley Museum, located on 235 acres along the banks of the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware, is the site of the gunpowder works founded by E. I. du Pont in 1802. This example of early American industry includes restored mills, a workers' community, and the ancestral home and gardens of the du Pont family. You are invited to enjoy "Christmas Traditions at Hagley" through January 1, 2008.
Visit the Eleutherian Mills residence and you'll find holiday decorations reflecting the furnishings and style that Louise du Pont Crowninshield used in the home when she lived here from 1925-1958. Holly, pine roping with ribbons, poinsettias, and the liberal use of dried plant materials mostly grown at Hagley, as well as fruit, are all used for decorations. Christmas trees, wreaths, holiday music, decorative mantelpieces, as well as many other decorations fill the home, giving it a warm and inviting holiday atmosphere.
The Christmas trees in Eleutherian Mills illustrate nineteenth- and twentieth-century changes from the tree's novelty in the Victorian era to its popularity in the Colonial Revival period. Styles changed from tabletop to floor-to-ceiling, and decorations progressed from hand-made edibles and paper crafts to glass ornaments, lead tinsel, and electric lights. One tree, a three-foot goose feather creation, took six hours to make and is a marvel of creativity and patience.
"Visiting Eleutherian Mills during the holiday season is a great way to get inspired for your own decorating," says Debra Hughes, curator of collections and exhibits at Hagley.
The Belin House Restaurant is offering a special Sunday brunch to accompany the holiday exhibit. Reservations are required. Call Fleur de Lis Catering (302) 425-5540 for details. The Hagley Store is stocked with items perfect for the holidays. Shop for jewelry, china, stationery, books, and more.
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