Friday, November 8, 2024
Villa Louis Announces Dates for 'Victorian Home for the Holidays' and 'Villa Louis Christmas Tea'
The historic Upper Mississippi mansion rolls out the holiday red carpet, showcasing festive décor and a historically inspired afternoon tea featuring authentic Victorian-era recipes
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PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. – During the festive holiday season, Villa Louis, a National Historic Landmark along Wisconsin’s Upper Mississippi River, welcomes guests for “Victorian Home for the Holidays” and “Villa Louis Christmas Tea” on Dec. 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15.
The former 1871 home of the Dousman family, Villa Louis, one of the finest examples of traditional Victorian décor in America, will be beautifully decorated for the holidays in a style typical of the era. Historic interpreters will be stationed throughout the home, sharing how the Dousman family celebrated Christmas in 1893 and speaking about the events that took place that year. Music will be played on the family’s original grand Steinway piano in the parlor, and Villa Louis’s historic cooks will prepare traditional Christmas treats in the kitchen, offering demonstrations and samples of sugar plums and other holiday favorites.
In a separate program, guests can enjoy a Victorian-inspired afternoon tea experience on the estate. “Our historic cooks have culled period recipe books to offer teatime foods characteristic of the late 1800s, when this English pastime came to America,” said Susan Caya-Slusser, Director of Southwest Regional Sites. “We look forward to showcasing these lovely recipes, which would have been typical of teatime foods served more than a century ago.”
The menu will feature ribbon finger sandwiches with cucumber-dill and chicken and ham fillings, along with a selection of pastries, including lemon and mincemeat tarts, sugar cookies, molasses cookies, and sugar plums (a sweet delicacy made with nuts, spices and dried fruit). Teatime scones, served with cream and jam, will complement a variety of favorite teas. Select recipes will be available for guests to take home.
Afternoon tea, served at noon and 2 p.m. each day, will be held in the Brisbois Stone Warehouse, a National Historic Landmarked building located on the original 25-acre estate near the main house. All attendees can also enjoy a self-guided tour of the historic Villa Louis, beautifully decorated for the holidays. The cost is $50 per person, and guests must be 13 or older to participate. Advance registration is required, and tickets can be purchased here or at villalouis.org.
The Victorian Home for the Holidays house tour costs $17 for adults, teens, and seniors, $12 for children ages 5 to 12, and is free for children under five. Advance registration is recommended, and tickets can be purchased here or at villalouis.org.
The Villa Louis Museum Gift Shop will be open each of these days from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a wide variety of items to fit your holiday shopping needs including a new custom, hand-painted ornament of the Villa Louis Mansion.
Villa Louis, a Wisconsin Historical Society site, is located at 521 Villa Louis Road, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, 53821. For further information go to www.villalouis.org.
About Villa Louis
Villa Louis is one 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, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefitting the Wisconsin Historical Society and administers the membership program. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
