One of the most beloved holiday traditions returns to the Ohio Valley. Oglebay Institute’s Mansion Museum in Oglebay Resort, Wheeling is lavishly decorated for the holidays and open to the public for tours through December 31.
Each holiday season since 1973, the Mansion Museum, which was the summer home of wealthy industrialist and philanthropist Earl W. Oglebay, has been trimmed for the holidays by professional decorators and talented amateurs. These talented decorators carry out a holiday theme in the Mansion’s 13 period rooms, hallways and staircases. Using their own unique vision, they create stunning results for visitors to enjoy.
The décor ranges from simple elegance to the extravagant, and visitors will find decorating inspiration to take back to their own homes.
Sponsored by Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, this year’s holiday decorating extravaganza is titled “Holiday Magic.”
Featured Decorators:
• Outside Visitor Entryway: Nicky’s Garden Center
• Welcome Desk: Lendon Floral and Garden
• Hallways and Staircase: Scott Klinkoski and Dick Taylor
• Dining Room: Joan Berlow-Smith, Jenny Jebbia, Martha Wright and Victoria Yuhase, The Jeweled Bird
• Pioneer Kitchen: Jennifer Christmas
• Victorian Bedroom: Lynn Maguire and Jeanne Guyer, Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum
• Federal Bedroom: Yvonne Jacobs, Collectors’ Cottage
• Sewing Room: Lisa M. Schmitt, Robinson & McElwee, PLLC
• Empire Bedroom: Museums Staff
• Child’s Bedroom: Museums Staff
• Empire Sitting Room: Kristin Irwin and Bev Burke
• Victoria Parlor: Megan Wagner and Jeanette Roupe, Pat Catan’s
• Mr. Oglebay’s Office: Becky Niess and Connie Ahernf
• Game Room: Mary Fahey, Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce
• Oval Sitting Room: Michelle Runkle
“We are so grateful to our corporate sponsor, the volunteer decorators, our staff and the Mansion Museum Committee members who make this event possible,” Museums director Christin Byrum said. “They invest so much time and money to transform the Mansion Museum into a yuletide dream. This exhibit is a wonderful example of the power of volunteerism and corporate philanthropy.”
Transforming History into Holidays Not an Easy Task.
Byrum said decorating a historic building is a quite a challenge. Decorators must incorporate design elements around the holiday theme and also create period-appropriate trimmings for the Mansion, which was built in 1846. Also, they must take special precautions so that period antiques are not damaged.
“It is a balancing act to ensure that the decorators have the means to express their creative vision and fulfill our professional responsibilities as stewards of a historic home and the collections within,” she said.
Holiday Events at the Mansion
In addition to touring the Mansion, guests can attend special holiday events that are planned for the coming weeks.
Oglebay Institute’s School of Dance performs the classic ballet “The Nutcracker” at 1 p.m. and 3p.m. December 2, 9 and 16. Click here to find out more and purchase tickets.
Community carol singing takes place from 6-8 p.m. December 14 outside the Mansion Museum. Sit around a campfire that burns inside a chimney carved in ice, sip hot chocolate and sing holiday songs. The event is free and open to the public. Read more.
Tour the Mansion.
You can tour the Mansion and Glass Museums from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday- Thursday and 10 a.m. – 10 p.m Fridays and Saturdays. Guests should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to closing to allow time to tour. The Museums are closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Please call 304-242-7272 for more information or visit on the web at www.oionline.com.