Last chance to visit the National Christmas Center

Joe, thanks for posting this.   This is really a shame.  I was just talking to my wife the other day about finally taking a trip to see this with our son during the Christmas season.  I was there once many years ago and it's a shame this great collection will no longer be displayed.  We will have to go this year now.

-Greg

My wife and I visited it last year. I recommend it. See it before it's gone! The 5 and 10 section took me back to my childhood!

Thanks for the heads up.  While I've not visited it, I have been vaguely aware of it.

I will try to make a visit this year before it's gone.

-Dave

I think the website "tour" may convince you to go. The guy who created and owns this usually has a table in the York Blue Hall. 

Jim Morrison has been collecting this stuff for essentially his entire life. He has talked about his dream of opening this museum for as long as I known him, some 30-years now. It saddens me greatly to learn that his dream, after 19-years of mild success, will soon come to a end. Jim is not a young man and I can only imagine what he's going to do with it all when shuttered, considering that I know there's lots more than what can be found at the museum. Let's just say, Jim is very fond of quantity. I don't envy his situation whatsoever.

It must be hard to keep something this seasonal going all year (although closed Jan/Feb, and weekends only for a few months). A "Christmas shop" is usually in a mall or shopping center, and they usually carry items for other holidays. Although well worth the admission charge, they really can't go much higher at this point. I know they get some bus tours, but probably not enough. I suppose the antiques will do well at auction, but what about the life-size animated figures and other display items. My favorite was a re-creation of the 1950s Coke ad with Santa at the fireplace reading a "wish list", and the kids looking on from the kitchen. The room has a '50s TV showing a '50s show.

This is some promo footage...

For LGB fans, there's this...

Joe Hohmann posted:

The guy who created and owns this usually has a table in the York Blue Hall. 

This is a picture of Jim...

Thanks to everyone for posting info about this place.  We've driven by it in the past and wrote it off as just another Lancaster County tourist trap.  Will try to make the stop this time.

Hopefully somebody will buy this and keep it open.

Yes, you can walk into the 5&10 and look all around. 

Is it also a store? Can you buy things there?

They have a small store, but largely it's a Christmas celebration museum.  Truly an amazing place. I have been there only twice but will be sure to go again. This is sad news. I have never been to another Christmas display at all like it.

If you happen to be nearby during October York week I highly recommend a visit.

eddie g posted:

Is it also a store? Can you buy things there?

They have a very nice/large selection of ornaments (I've always bought a few), nativities, and other items...however, the store is not as large as you might expect. What I like best are the ornaments that clip on to the tips of branches...perched birds, mushrooms, etc. 

We often say that October York puts you into the Christmas Spirit. This is the icing on the cake.

All the years and times l have driven around Lancaster and Strasburg and if aware of this, l probably blew it off as a tourist trap.  Hope l can get there.

I took the grandkids there a couple of years ago. It was really neat and I enjoyed talking to Jim. Sorry to hear that it's closing. I will try to get back there again.

Gerry