You know that Christmas is only weeks away. Even if you and your family have a wonderful tradition, why not do something extra special this year? Load everyone in the car and head to Columbus, Texas, to visit the Santa Claus Museum.
A New Family Tradition
Even if your family already has Christmas traditions, you could add this to them. The Santa Claus Museum first unlocked its doors in 1990. Every year, people come from near and far for a special experience. It takes place in a beautiful home given by Mrs. Laura Ann Rau. She’s not just anyone but, rather, a Columbus Historical Preservation Trust founding member.
You’ll find the museum at 604 Washington Street in Columbus, Texas. It’s open Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Dec. 1 through 17. Moreover, you can visit on Dec. 19 to 23 and Dec. 26 to 30 on the same days and at the same times.
Today, you’ll discover three astounding collections. Each of them brings the Christmas spirit alive. They include the following:
The Hopkins Collection
Born in 1913, Mary Elizabeth Youens Hopkins started collecting Santa Clauses in the early 1970s. She was only six months old when she got her first Santa Claus. Although she passed away in 1990, she grew her beautiful collection to more than 2,500 pieces.
However, this isn’t just any Santa Claus collection. Rather, Mary Hopkins found pieces made of all kinds of materials. For instance, along with cloth Santa Clauses, other materials include China, corn shucks, wood, glass, basket weave, and cast iron.
She spent her life picking up Santa Clauses from around the globe. Not only is this collection something you’ll enjoy but also your kids.
The Hubenak Collection
The Hubenak Collection is the third on display at the Santa Claus Museum. It all started when Al and Neva Lou Hubenak drove through town one spring. They both immediately fell in love with its character and charm.
After getting settled, Al became a board member of the Columbus Historical Preservation Trust. During his eight years with the organization, he provided tours of the museum and other historical sites.
The two started collecting Santa Clauses in the latter part of 1990. What began as a fun hobby soon turned into a massive collection. Then, in 2019, they donated their collection to the Santa Claus Museum. With more than 400 dolls, figurines, artwork, and more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The Luman Collection
This, too, is a huge attraction at the Santa Claus Museum in Columbus, Texas. For the better part of their marriage, Merle and Elaine have collected Santa Clauses. Like Mary Hopkins, they found wonderful things from all over the world. Although everything in the collection is mesmerizing, the Asian version of Santa Claus and the Russian nesting Santa Claus get the most attention.
The Lumen Collection includes Santa Clauses sitting in sleighs, stockings, ceramic pieces, and some Santa Clauses with mechanical animation. Because the size of the collection is so vast, the museum had to expand after receiving the collection in 2019. Today, it’s one of the most popular collections at the Santa Claus Museum.
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The Holiday Spirit
Seeing so many Santa Clauses in one place makes everyone excited about the Christmas holiday. It’s a great place to take the children.