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Support Merry-Making at Museums
Support Merry-Making at Museums

t’s the most wonderful time of the year. Even in this age of Covid, with the new book: Glass Flowers: Marvels of Art and Science at Harvard.
holiday options for everyone are available at museums everywhere, From orchids to bananas, Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka created a
Ithanks to the Internet. Shop for unique gifts, take virtual tours, sit stunning array of glass models of plants for Harvard University in the late
in on a class, and enjoy socially-distant, on-site events. 19th and early 20th centuries. Purchase directly from the Museums here:
Search for your favorite museums online and support them in their https://bit.ly/glass-flowers-book.
year-end efforts to keep their doors open. Museums are the keepers of
history where questions are answered and minds opened. Art Museums of
Here are some examples from museums large and small that invite Colonial Williamsburg
you to celebrate the Holidays with them, supporting them in their time 301 S Nassau St, Williamsburg, VA
of need colonialwilliamsburg.org
Holiday programs begin on Wednesday,
National Bottle Museum November 25 with President George Washington's
76 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa, NY Thanksgiving Proclamation—231st anniversary of this historic procla-
nationalbottlemuseum.org mation—at 2 p.m. daily programs featuring people from the past will
The National Bottle Museum® was created to be offered. New this year are:
preserve, research, and exhibit bottles and objects Stories of the Past, People of the Present - Celebrate American Indian life
related to bottle making. This Holiday Season, the and culture through traditional stories and a behind-the-scenes conversa-
Museum will offer handmade glass ornaments at 20% off – be sure to tion with American Indian interpreters about what it’s like to tell the
check their website to find out when the sale starts. Another wonderful gift histories of their communities to the public.
idea that supports the Museum are their “orphan bottles” for a $5 Light in the Darkness - Christmastide has come to Williamsburg and
donation. Looking for a strange but interesting gift? Adopt an orphan bot- brings with it joy for some, sorrow for others. Listen to Gowan Pamphlet
tle and give it as a gift as they are already-wrapped and are meant to be a and George Washington discuss the impact the season has on them and
mystery. The gift includes a tag with the Museum’s information in case their communities, both enslaved and free.
they want to know more about their bottle. An orphan bottle is basically Dressing for Christmastide with Mrs. Rind - What makes up an 18th-
a bottle that did not meet the criteria to make it into the permanent century woman’s wardrobe and why? Follow Clementina Rind, a busi-
collection, usually because we already have one. They are called orphans nesswoman, government official, and mother, from morning, to day, to
because on many occasions, they come to the Museum in boxes that are evening in a discussion and demonstration of what she wears and the rea-
left on their doorstep. sons why she does.
Same Space, Different Place - A unique theatrical experience thrusts you
into the world of Rachel Whitaker, recently widowed owner of the Brick
Corning Museum of Glass House Tavern, and her enslaved servant, Milly. How does the
One Museum Way, Corning, NY Christmastide season differ for these two mothers who find themselves
cmog.org engaged in the domestic dance of 18th-century women?
Design Your Own Ornament experience is on A New Kind of Christmas - The Christmastide season has consistently
this year because so many families come to the been defined by new beginnings for Roger, an enslaved man from the
Museum each year to make holiday ornaments Randolph property. This season will be no different. Through loss, laugh-
together. Given the continued unknowns about travel and the hesitancy ter, and reflection, join Roger on his journey of discovery for the meaning
for in-person visits, CMoG wanted to create a way to keep the tradition of this season. And much, much more. Find out all the celebrations,
alive. Much like their in-person “Make Your Own Glass” workshops, the online programming, blogs, and more at Colonial Williamsburg through
visitor picks their base color and decorative colors. Each ornament is the “Learn” tab at ColonialWilliamsburg.org
hand-made and shipped.
Also, the Shops at CMoG relaunched the Steuben line a few years ago
(all proceeds support education programs at the Museum). Each year Historic New England
Steuben puts out a new hand cooler and Christmas ornament. This year’s historicnewengland.org
hand cooler is a camel! The 2020 Christmas Ornament offers a simple, Historic New England (HNE) is the oldest and
timely message of peace. largest regional heritage organization in the nation.
HNE engages diverse audiences in developing a
Harvard Museums of Science deeper understanding and enjoyment of New
England home life by being the national leader in collecting, preserving,
& Culture and using significant buildings, landscapes, archives, stories, and objects
11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, MA from the past to today. Below are a few examples of upcoming events.
hmsc.harvard.edu The Spirit of Christmas Past: Four Centuries of Christmas in New
While the Museums may be closed as of press England, Webinar, Wednesday, December 2, 5 - 6:30 p.m.
time, the four Museums continue to offer online This richly illustrated talk by Historic New England's Kenneth C.
programming for people of all ages. The Museums are: the Collection of Turino traces the evolving celebration of Christmas in New England.
Historical Scientific Instruments, Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near Follow the development of the holiday, from the time it was outlawed
East, Harvard Museum of Natural History, and Peabody Museum of in 17th century New England through the beginning of the 21st
Archaeology & Ethnology. Pick your favorite topic and check out what is century, when all the trappings of a traditional Christmas were in place
being offered through virtual programming. Victorian Holiday Market, Saturday, December 5, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Extraordinary Things features intriguing objects from all four at the Eustis Estate, 1424 Canton Avenue, Milton, MA.
museums. Take a Virtual Tour of your favorite Museum, and be sure to Get in the holiday spirit with our first ever Victorian Holiday
check out HMSC Connects! Exhibit Spotlight – a virtual window into Market at the Eustis Estate. This open air market features a variety of
intriguing cultural and scientific concepts to keep us informed and local craftspeople selling unique holiday gifts including jewelry, fiber
engaged with our ever-changing world. And there is a bi-weekly podcast art, foodstuffs, and more. Takeaway food and drinks are available for
that goes behind the scenes of HMSC museums. purchase from local restaurants. Due to COVID-19 considerations,
This holiday season re-experience the exquisite beauty of the Glass this event has limited capacity. Get your tickets in advance at staggared
Flowers collection from the Harvard Museum of Natural History at home entrance times on the half hour from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
38 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles