Explore the beautiful neighborhood of Beacon Hill during the Nichols House Museum’s 30th annual Beacon Hill Holiday House Tour, which takes place on Sunday, Dec. 14, from noon to 4 p.m., with a reception from 3-5 p.m.
Every year, the Holiday House Tour showcases outstanding examples of historic preservation, as well as creative modern interpretations and adaptations and is the primary annual fundraising event for the Nichols House Museum.
This year’s tour will be a day full of beauty, music and cheer, offering a rare opportunity to experience a select group of private residences at their festive best. In addition, the Nichols House Museum will be open for self-guided tours for guests to experience historically inspired holiday traditions of the Nichols family at the turn of the 20th century. This year the reception will be held at the William Hickling Prescott House, headquarters of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In honor of the event’s 30th anniversary, the museum will inaugurate the Wreaths of Beacon Hill — an addition to the Holiday House Tour of curated stops along the tour route that celebrate the beauty of historic facades decorated with holiday greens.
There will be plenty of festive music to enjoy throughout the afternoon. The Old South Ringers will be ringing handbells at the Museum from noon until 2 p.m. The Old Towne Carolers will serenade guests along the Tour route. And the reception at Prescott House will feature Sylvia Berry, a specialist in historical keyboard instruments, who will be playing carols and classical music on a restored 1823 Tomkison Square piano.
Also, join the Nichols House Museum for its kick-off event, the Eggnog Pre-Party, on Thursday, Dec. 11. Enjoy a frothy cup of traditional Beacon Hill eggnog from the recipe of Rose Standish Nichols and her live-in cook and housekeeper, Mary King.
The Nichols House Museum is grateful for this year’s business sponsors of the Holiday House Tour, including: Howland Capital, Grogan & Company, Eastern Bank/Cambridge Trust, Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty/The Tulman Adam Partnership, Cort Petrocelli Coopersmith/Diana Coldren, and Howland Company, Inc. Rouvalis Flowers & Gardens have donated outdoor wreaths & greens at the Nichols House Museum.
For tickets to the Eggnog Pre-Party and the Holiday House Tour, visit: