Step into the Victorian era this holiday season at the Historic Stranahan House Museum and discover how the pioneers of Fort Lauderdale celebrated the season.
Learn how and why certain holiday traditions began while taking in cozy, festive decorations in every room during the Victorian Christmas Tours. From wreaths on the doors and garland on the ceiling to stockings on the mantel and a beautifully decorated tree in the foyer, each space exudes old-world holiday cheer.
Taking place from Dec. 16-20 from 5-8 p.m., these 40-minute tours are guided by jolly and knowledgeable docents. While reading informative signage and listening to the guide, guests will be serenaded by classic Christmas songs played on a 1900s piano.
Along with the holiday tours, families can capture the season with holiday photo sessions with Santa. Cookies with Santa runs from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 6.
Proceeds from these events go toward the year-round historic preservation and education programs at the Stranahan House.
The Historic Stranahan House and Museum is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County, once serving as a trading post, post office, town hall and home to the Stranahans. Frank Stranahan is Fort Lauderdale’s first businessman and his wife, Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, was the area’s first schoolteacher, as well as a champion of civic, social service, environmental and educational causes. Today, the museum preserves, interprets and promotes the House, historic site and history of the community’s founding family.
The Victorian Christmas Tours are $30 per person or $25 for members. The Cookies with Santa five-minute photo sessions are by appointment only and are $45 for a family of four, plus $5 for each additional person.
The Historic Stranahan House and Museum is located at 335 S.E. 6th Ave., Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit stranahanhouse.org/victorian-christmas-tours.