Richard; I believe many of the major historic sites, particularly Colonial Williamsburg and Old Stursbridge Village, do special Christmas programs. I am not aware of much in Canada as, frankly, it is usually too damned cold to do this kind of programming! Fort Stanwix, in Rome NY, does a great deal of programming based on the various special occasions of the year. Their period (colonial) is different from yours, but you might get some ideas from them. Also, Chris Dill, director of the state history museum in ND, who often contributes to this list, might be able to tell you what they do or plan to do at Fort Lincoln, across the river from his site, where the 7th Cavalry was based, under some ex-Civil War brigadier general with long locks, whose name I can't quite recall! I'm afraid the Canadian garrison experience will not be of much help to you as, during the period you are interpreting, our garrisons were almost all in well-established cities and towns in the eastern part of the country - and many of the customs associated with the festive season by our military are quite different from yours. I would be happy to provide more details, but don't know if it would be helpful. One of our Christmas projects for the near future will be an exhibition based around a Victorian Christmas in a military garrison, but, so far we have done nothing to plan for it. Another possibility for us is a special Christmas exhibition based on our very large collection of military miniatures and toy soldiers. My partner and I host a mid-Victorian Christmas dinner each year and I could provide ideas from this, but I wonder how similar the diets might have been to the 7th Infantry! In any case, best of luck! Harry Harry Needham Special Advisor - Programme Development Canadian War Museum 330 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Canada K1A 0M8 Voice: (819) 776-8612 Fax (819) 776-8623 Email: [log in to unmask] > ---------- > From: Richard A Fields[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Reply To: Museum discussion list > Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 1998 3:22 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: 1848 Christmas > > Hi List, > I am hoping someone out there can help me out. The Fort Gibson > Historic Site will be having an 1848 Candlelight Tour on Dec 11 & 12. > On this tour we have about a dozen stops where we portray life in the > 7th Infantry as they were stationed at Fort Gibson in 1848. One of my > staff pointed out to me that as it is so close to Christmas, we should > try to incorporate some Christmas elements into the program. I know > Christmas in 1848 was celebrated differently than so today, but as it is > so close to the event, I don't really have time to do an extensive > study. So I guess what I am asking is this, does anyone have any > suggestions on how 1848 Christmas scenes might be incorporated into what > is essentialy an 1848 military tour? Do any of the historic house > museums display this period and if so, do you have any suggestions? > Thanks in advance for the consideration. > Richard Fields > Superintendent > Fort Gibson Historic Site > Fort Gibson, Oklahoma >