The Ten Broeck Mansion, home of the Albany County Historical Association (ACHA), announces its Holiday House 2020 schedule.
Shimmering lights, festive trees and bright garlands inside and out set the scene at the Ten Broeck Mansion, a historic house museum which welcomes the community as a place to make family memories today. Tours with timed tickets are on Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 2:30 p.m. from Dec. 5 to 20.
For the health and safety of all visitors, indoor admission is by timed tickets, advance purchase only. Tickets are available via tenbroeckmansion.org, Eventbrite, or Facebook. Walk-through tours of groups of 5 or less feature docents to share information about holidays in the past, and the history of the Ten Broeck Mansion. Adults $5. Children and ACHA members free. All visitors must wear facemasks and practice social distancing.
On Sunday, Dec. 6 and 13 from 12 noon to 2:30 p.m., “Sinterklaas” – the Dutch St. Nicholas and the patron saint of children is available for free family photos outdoors on the Mansion’s decorated porch. Learn about Dutch and other cultural traditions for the holidays. Children must be accompanied by an adult and wear facemasks. Free and open to families.
New this year, the ACHA has free take-home ornament kits via its outdoor garden educational kiosk. Children may bring completed ornaments to hang on a community tree on display in the Mansion. The community is invited to bring canned goods or boxed cereal or pasta, which the ACHA will distribute to a local food pantry.
Also new this year is a Pop-up Porch Sale, featuring wreaths designed and made by local garden clubs and artisans. All proceeds support the ACHA’s education programming. Locally-made artisanal gifts and ornaments and new historic embroidery kits available. Pop-up Porch Sale hours are Fridays-Sundays, 12 noon to 3 p.m., Dec. 4 to 20.
The ACHA thanks the following organizations who generously volunteered to decorate and make wreaths for the Ten Broeck Mansion: Delmar Progress Club, Garden Study Club, Albany County Master Gardeners, Members of the DAR, Members of the Daughters of 1812, Helderview Garden Club, Bethlehem Garden Club, Blue Creek Garden Club, and the Capital District Chapter of the Embroiderers Guild of America.
The Ten Broeck Mansion was built in 1798 for Abraham and Elizabeth Ten Broeck. The ACHA was founded in 1942 and received the 1798 Ten Broeck Mansion as a gift from the Olcott family in 1948. The mission of the ACHA is to preserve, present, promote, and interpret the stories of the rich and diverse history and culture of Albany County. Its nearly four-acre museum site includes the Mansion, gardens, and exhibit and gallery space at King’s Place.
