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Travel Back In Time To Christmas In The 1860s At This Missouri Historic Site

Published Nov 16, 2023

Written by 

Beth Price-Williams

So many magical moments await during the Christmas season that we can’t help but embrace the holiday spirit. Christmas in Missouri is also one of the busiest times of the year. That means we usually don’t have time to pack all of the holiday events and activities into our schedule. When you’re deciding what events to add to your calendar this holiday season, consider a visit to the Christmas Candlelight Open House, where you'll celebrate a Victorian Christmas in New Madrid, Missouri.

Get swept up in the Christmas spirit with a visit to the Christmas Candlelight Open House at Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site this December.

A large, white Victorian-style house with green shutters, a porch, and manicured gardens in front.
Facebook/Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site

An antebellum mansion, the Hunter-Dawson House features 15 rooms and showcases the lifestyle of one of the wealthiest families in Missouri in the 1860s.

The two-evening event is set for Dec. 8-9, 2023 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is free.

A cozy room decorated for the holidays, featuring a Christmas tree, fireplace, and vintage furniture.
Facebook/Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site

Celebrating an 1860s Victorian Christmas, the annual event welcomes guests to tour the historic Hunter-Dawson Home, which will be illuminated by candles and oil lamps.

A decorated fireplace with greenery and ornaments, beside a small Christmas tree in a cozy, vintage room.
Facebook/Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site

Twinkling Christmas trees, ornaments that harken back to the 1860s, and fresh greenery transform the historic home into a charming Christmas wonderland.

A festive dining room with a long table set for a meal, decorated with greenery and candles, featuring vintage decor.
Facebook/Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site

Enjoy refreshments as you talk with the staff, dressed in period costumes, who will be mingling with and answering questions from guests.

A group of people in 19th-century attire poses in a festive room decorated for the holidays, with a Christmas tree.
Facebook/Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site

If you can’t make it for the Christmas celebration, the historic house will be open for daytime tours both on the days of the event and throughout the year.

A decorated fireplace with a garland of red and white flowers, set against floral wallpaper and a vintage clock.
Facebook/Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site

Guided tours, which include a fee, run for an hour.

Find more information on the event page of the Christmas Candlelight Open House. Or, check out the official website of the Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site.

A large white historic house decorated with green garlands and red wreaths for the holiday season.
Facebook/Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site

Do you plan to celebrate a Victorian Christmas in New Madrid, Missouri this December? Let us know in the comments! Then find out why the remote town of New Madrid, Missouri belongs on your bucket list.

Stay toasty on all of your wintertime adventures – maybe a trek along one of the best hiking trails in Missouri – by bundling up in a winter jacket.

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