Prairie du Chien, Wis. – For two December weekends, guests can step back in time and enter a Victorian-era holiday experience at Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Formerly home of the Dousman family, this Wisconsin Historical site recreates a Christmas scenario inspired by the family who once lived there.

Villa Louis, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Victorian Home for the Holidays – Saturday, Dec. 2 and 9, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Sunday, Dec. 3 and 10, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Experience the magic of a Victorian holiday celebration at Villa Louis. Join an afternoon or evening guided tour of the festively decorated historic home and learn about the Christmas customs of the opulent Dousman family, who called this mansion home since 1871. Hourly tours will be offered, and guests can sit in the parlor and listen to holiday music being played on the family’s Steinway grand piano including an original song by Virginia Dousman (My Beloved Home). The smells and tastes of holiday treats will waft through the mansion with the cook baking in the historic kitchen and guests can enjoy hot apple cider, cookies and samples of traditional Plum pudding.

The cost is $17.50 for adults, $12.50 for children 5-12 and free for children under five. Advance registration is recommended. Interested in bringing a group to experience the magic of a Villa Louis Christmas? The team at Villa Louis looks forward to welcoming your group for a historic holiday visit.  For further information, call 608-326-2721.

Villa Louis Christmas Tea – Friday, Dec. 1 and 8 | 9:30, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

In the late 1800s, the tradition of taking afternoon tea made its way to America. Affluent families, often inspired by European customs, were known to indulge in this favorite British pastime. As a special holiday treat, Villa Louis will offer an authentic afternoon tea experience featuring finger sandwiches, scones and pastries and a selection of teas. Prior to tea, guests can enjoy a tour of the festively decorated 1871 mansion, with a brief stop in the parlor for a concert on the restored Steinway grand piano. The tour will end with a visit with the cook in the Villa Louis kitchen before enjoying afternoon tea in the 1850 Brisbois Fur Trade building. The cost of afternoon tea and tour is $50 per person. Advance registration is recommended.

For information, visit villalouis.org.

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About Villa Louis

Villa Louis is one the of Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums. A National Historic Landmark located in Prairie du Chien, the historic Villa Louis mansion is the centerpiece of a grand Victorian estate built by the family of Hercules Dousman, a frontier entrepreneur who amassed a fortune in the fur trade and other frontier investments. The mansion received a top-to-bottom restoration that has returned the home to the splendor of its 1890s heyday, using British Arts and Crafts interior designs inspired by famed designer William Morris. Visit villalouis.org or call (608) 326-2721 for more information and a list of upcoming events. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free admission to this site during regular operating hours.

About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active, and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting,  and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs, and services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.