3 Holiday Tours To Take This Year With Montclair History Center

MONTCLAIR, NJ — There are plenty of ways that visitors can explore the Crane House and Historic YWCA in Montclair this holiday season.

The following tours/events will take place at the Crane House & Historic YWCA at 110 Orange Road. For more information, visit the website www.montclairhistory.org or contact the Montclair History Center at 973-744-1796 or mail@montclairhistory.org.

Candlelight Tours (Thursday, December 8 and 15 at 6:30 p.m.) - A fun evening that begins with period libations in the historic hearth kitchen and continues with a tour of the Crane House & Historic YWCA. See the period holiday decorations artfully designed by the Garden Club of Montclair (a ranking in USA Today's 2020 10 Best Reader's Choice Travel Award for the "Best Holiday Home Tour") as Executive Director Angelica Diggs and Collections Manager Erin Benz lead special candlelight tours that tell the history of our holidays past from the 1700s to the 20th century. This is a smaller, more intimate tour of the house, so make your reservations early to get your spot. Recommended for visitors ages 10 and up due to Santa Spoilers. $20/person. Reservation required at www.montclairhistory.org.

Sugarplums & St. Nick: Children's Holiday Tours (Friday, December 9 and 16) - On this family tour, guests will learn how children celebrated the holidays in days gone by while enjoying the holiday decorations artfully designed by the Garden Club of Montclair. Join Education Manager Susanne Costa, and Museum Coordinator Natalie Fontana-Rivera as we go through the rooms on the first floor of the Crane House and Historic YWCA sharing stories about how Christmas has changed over the years. Tours will be every hour starting at 4 p.m.; last tour at 6 p.m. $10/person. Reservation required at www.montclairhistory.org.

Winter Wonderland Open House Tours (Sundays from December 4 to December 18 from noon to 3 p.m.) - In 2020, USA Today readers voted the Crane House and Historic YWCA’s Holiday House Tour #4 IN THE NATION. Be among the first to see this year’s decorations. Visit us today to see the beautiful period decorations by Garden Club of Montclair. Self-guided tours let you explore this 226-year-old home at your leisure. Warm yourself in the hearth and learn about holiday food traditions. Admission by donation. No registration required.

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