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| Historic Houses, Dressed for the HolidaysCompiled by Sara Cormeny and Kimberley Johnson
WashingtonPost.com Staff
November 20, 1996Historic homes offer quiet retreats from the bustle of holiday shopping and family visiting. They can be a welcome alternative to a trip to the Smithsonian if you feel like you've already "done the museums." Decorated for the holidays, mansions from a bygone era are a treat to behold. We've gathered a list of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington historic homes that are putting on the ritz for Christmas. Maryland| Beall-Dawson House, 103 W. Montgomery Ave., Rockville. Dec. 8 through mid-March. | | This year's Christmas decorations feature a display of paper dolls. | | Open Tuesday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors, and $1 for students under 18. Admission is free for children under 6. Call 301/762-1492 for more information. |
 Virginia| George Washington Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, southern end of Mount Vernon Parkway, Mount Vernon. Dec. 1-Jan. 6. | | "Holidays at Mount Vernon" include Candlelight tours of the mansion, free cider and ginger cookies. The third floor of the home, normally closed to visitors, will be open during Holidays at Mount Vernon. Unlike most attractions, Mount Vernon will be open on Christmas and New Year's Day. | | Mount Vernon is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Admission is $8 for adults, $7.50 for seniors, and $4.00 for children age 6-11. Call 703/780-2000. |
| Oatlands Plantation, U.S. Route 15, Leesburg. Nov. 23-Dec. 30. | | The 1803 mansion is decorated in three distinct styles, reflecting the ways Christmas was celebrated by three generations of Oatlands families: "Victorian Christmas," "Edwardian Christmas," and "The Roaring Twenties." | | The Plantation is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sundays 1-6:30 p.m. Admission is $7 per person. Call 703/777-3174 for more information. |
| Sully Plantation, Route 28 (1/4 mile north of Route 50), Chantilly. Dec. 4-30. | | A Victorian tree and 18th-century decorations will be on display at this Federal-era mansion. | | Tours are offered Wednesday through Monday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children and seniors. Call 703/437-1794 for more information. |
| Woodlawn Plantation and the Pope-Leighey House, 9000 Richmond Highway, Mt. Vernon. | | In "A Needlework Christmas," Woodlawn Plantation will celebrate Christmas with an exhibit of modern needlework surrounded by seasonal decorations. Needlework artists from all over will display their work in the rooms of the mansion, and many of the creations will be available for sale. The Christmas decorations and needlework exhibit will be on display from Dec. 7-15. | | "A 1940s Christmas" offers a visit to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Pope-Leighey house on the grounds of Woodlawn Plantation for a view of how Christmas was celebrated during World War II. The house will be decorated for the holidays Dec. 7-31. | | The Pope-Leighey House is open daily 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Woodlawn Plantation is open daily 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Call 703-780-4000 for more information about either house. Admission to each of the properties is $6 for adults and $4 for students and seniors. |
Washington, D.C.| Heurich House Museum/Historical Society of Washington, 1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW. Dec. 5-Jan. 11. | | "Twas the Night Before Christmas," when period rooms in the Victorian Heurich museum are transformed into the site of a German American family Christmas. In addition, the museum will be exhibiting Victorian games and toys in the gallery. | | The house musem is open Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $3. Call 202/785-2068 for information. |
| Hillwood House Museum, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Dec. 2-Jan. 1. | | "Mrs. Post's 1950's Christmas" features Hillwood, the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, decorated in full '50s style, with celophane and tinsel ribbons and bows, crystal and glass hand-crafted ornaments, and seasonal music and refreshments. | | Reservations are required to visit Hillwood; tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Admission is $10 per person. Call 202/686-8500 to make a reservation or for more information. |
| Tudor Place, 1644 31st St. NW. Dec. 10-31. | | An old-fashioned candlelight Christmas is at Tudor Place, with traditional ornaments and decorations, and displays of antique toys. | | Tudor Place is open for tours Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students. Call 202/965-0400. |
| Woodrow Wilson House, 2340 S St. NW. Dec. 2-Jan. 6. | | "Christmas on S Street" lights up the Wilson home. Built in 1915, this Embassy Row house was purchased by President Wilson when he left office in 1920. The seasonal celebration includes holiday music played on a Victrola and electric lights on the Christmas tree. | | Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $2.50 for students and $4.50 for seniors over 62. Call 202/387-4062 for further information. |
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