The Twelve Months of Fruits, December, 1732, Robert Furber, England
Dolls’ Bedsteads, from The Cries of London for Children, 1810, Philadelphia
Seasons, Winter, 1732, Robert Furber, England
EXHIBIT: An American Colonial Revival Christmas
November 10–December 31, 2026 | 10:00am to 4:30pm
What were the customs and traditions of a Colonial American Christmas in 1774 on the eve of revolution 250 years ago? The Historic Odessa Foundation continues its decade’s old tradition of creating Christmas exhibits inspired by classic children’s literature to encourage reading and literacy and to complement our Storybook Trees exhibit in the National Historic Register Wilson-Warner House.
This holiday season view vignettes of historical artifacts on loan from the collections of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles from the series of stories written by the award – winning author Valerie Tripp, about the American Girl character Felicity, whose story takes place in 1774. See the doll-sized pieces displayed with their corresponding human-sized artifacts and antiques all exhibited within the period rooms of the Historic Odessa Foundation’s National Historic Landmark Corbit-Sharp House also of 1774.
The accounts of Christmas customs and traditions celebrated in America on the eve of Revolution provide inspiration for each room vignette. Since Felicity arrives from the colonial capital of Virginia, discover the iconic Williamsburg colonial revival Christmas decorations that have inspired generations of decorators of American home interiors during the Christmas season. Learn some of the design sources for those natural decorations that were started in the early 20th century, but were never part of 18th century America.
This Christmas season plan for a visit and tour of the Historic Odessa Foundation while creating family traditions and continuing America’s Semiquincentennial celebration.
***This exhibit is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by American Girl or Mattel. “American Girl” is a registered trademark of American Girl, LLC. All references are made for educational and descriptive purposes only.
**Ann Proctor with Doll and Parrott, 1789, Charles Willson Peale, Baltimore, Maryland. Courtesy of the Hammond Harwood House, Annapolis, Maryland, Donated by Arunah Brady, 1953.
