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A Journey
through Christmas 

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In a world where crowds rush shopping malls to hunt for the season's latest, greatest, everyone's gotta have it, mass produced, here today gone tomorrow gadget, one man was being led by his love of all things Christmas past.

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At only six years old, Jim Morrison purchased his first Christmas ornament. It represented a fascination with the lovingly decorated homes he visited and the magic of waking up to tree alight and a toy stuffed stocking by his side. The spell it cast has never been broken. His sentimental spirit was the driving force behind a collection of vintage Christmas memorabilia that grew until he had built a literal museum exhibit of holidays gone by.

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As Morrison traveled and shared his amazing collection with others, he held a vision of a place that would remind people of the true meaning behind the holidays and reawaken the passion that adulthood often forces us to leave behind. The National Christmas Center is the realization of that dream; an incredible wonderland for those who want to travel back through the history of Christmas.

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Morrison was able to collaborate with the builders of Tudor Towne, an animated storybook village, in the beautiful Pennsylvania Dutch Country, a place where time had stood still for many years, as the Amish had preserved both the land and a simpler way of life. Here he combined history and fantasy to recreate the pre-television holidays he had once enjoyed, ones where bus trips to Philadelphia led him to the huge shop windows which magically brought Christmas to life.

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The Center is visited by thousands of people throughout the year; its ever expanding tribute to holidays past and present continue to touch so many hearts because it acknowledges the many ways in which Christmas has been celebrated over the years. A visitor who claimed to only have attended for the sake of his wife and children, expressed his amazement when the mountain of miniature electric trains had the instant power to bring back his childhood. The eyes of children and adults alike light up as they meet Santa in his workshop, window shop at Woolworth's 5 and dime, or follow the footsteps of Mary and Joseph on their journey through Bethlehem.

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The National Christmas Center considers its mission to honor and preserve the spirit of the holidays and to inspire others to keep that spirit alive. Whether or not you ever visit such an enchanted place, it is my hope that it inspires you to keep your family's unique traditions alive, year after year.

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Click here for information on the National Christmas Center

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For ideas on vintage decorating please visit  A Vintage Christmas

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