A Gilded Age Christmas at the Eustis Estate

During the holidays, Gilded Age house museums across the United States come alive, using seasonal decor to showcase the grandeur of the homes and invite visitors to experience the past in a new way. From the mansions of Newport, Rhode Island, to the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina, these celebrations have become cornerstones of museum calendars. The Eustis Estate in Milton, Massachusetts, however, offers a more intimate encounter: A holiday experience rooted in the home’s remarkably preserved interiors and the lives of the people who once inhabited them, open to the public for tours the entire month of December,

The tradition of decorating for Christmas began shortly after the 1878 home opened to the public, when visitors repeatedly asked, “Will you decorate for Christmas?” Site Manager Karla Rosenstein recognized early on how naturally the home lent itself to holiday décor—its rich woodwork, handcrafted details, and dramatic spaces practically beg for seasonal embellishment. The challenge was to select decorations that honored both the home’s history and the spirit of the season.

Julie Solz, Vice President for Collection Services, grew up working in her mother’s store, which included a year-round holiday shop. With years of experience arranging and rearranging Christmas trees and a curator’s eye for detail, Julie joined forces with Karla to develop a decorating plan that reflects the estate’s architecture and Victorian Christmas traditions.

Like the mansion’s interior finishes, the holiday decorations draw on the design vocabulary of the Aesthetic and Arts and Crafts movements. Motifs of birds, fruits, and flowers echo the carved botanical details found throughout the house, helping the displays feel a natural part of the space. Greenery spills across the carved mantels, a fourteen-foot tree glows at the center of the main hall, and smaller trees, wreaths, and themed vignettes appear from the grand first floor to the quiet corners of the third. The inclusion of reproductions nineteenth-century decorations such as paper chains, handmade ornaments, and treat-filled cones imbues the home with warmth and conviviality of a Victorian holiday.

In keeping with Historic New England’s mission to tell everyone’s stories, holiday decorating at the Eustis Estate highlights not only the Eustis family’s traditions but also those of the people who worked in the house. The customs of the Swedish immigrants who once cared for the property are thoughtfully woven into the displays, complementing the family’s more formal style. The result is a layered presentation that reflects the full range of experiences at the estate, offering visitors a richer understanding of daily life and the people who shaped it.

December programming at the Eustis Estate invites visitors to experience the holiday season in ways that emphasize beauty and community. Evening open houses let guests see the mansion by lamplight. Christmas concerts fill the halls with music. Holiday teas offer a festive and elegant outing, and Santa’s annual visits create joyful memories for families who return year after year. In a season often dominated by shopping and commercial bustle, this is a place to slow down and reconnect with the wonder of the holidays.

The Eustis Estate decorations remain up the entire month of December, with tours Thursday-Sunday. For more information on tours and special events, visit the Eustis Estate website.