VISITING A CHRISTMAS CASTLE

One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is to visit the American Swedish Institute.  Each year the Turnblad Manison is decorated to reflect a Scandinavian Christmas, with each room representing a different country.  The result is amazing, and the Mansion itself is spectacular!  This is truly one of America’s great Christmas Castles!

This beautiful tapestry greeted guests in the Visitors Center before they entered the Mansion.

Swan and Christina Turnblad built this amazing mansion in 1908.

Musicians Serenaded the guests through the afternoon.

This was the first year that the Mansion's kitchen and pantry were open to the public.

The Tomtes were everywhere!

This year the ASI began doing outreach to the surrounding community and its diverse ethnic makeup by also featuring another cultural in it holiday display.  Mexico was featured this year.