Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Downtown: Santa fans travel along his timeline at museum

The Changing Faces of Santa exhibit is a new addition to the Victorian Christmas Stroll at the Henry B. Plant Museum.

The smell of old cedar and perfume fills the air of an old-fashioned children's bedroom. In one corner, a toy train circles a Christmas tree with gifts beneath it. On the beds lie Victorian period clothing suitable for young ladies and gentlemen.

Such is a scene at the 22nd annual Victorian Christmas Stroll at the Henry B. Plant Museum at the University of Tampa.

"When people walk into our museum, we want them to feel as though they were in the year of 1891," said Sally Shifke, a museum spokeswoman.

Museum employees and volunteers work together to create an authentic replica of the former historic Tampa Bay Hotel during the holidays. They find old ornaments and dolls through local antique collectors.

The stroll has 14 rooms, each with its own theme and decorated Christmas tree. For example, the Santa room has miniature Santa ornaments and stockings; the hat room has vintage doll hat ornaments, gloves and umbrellas.

The main hallway boasts an 18-foot artificial tree.

"This is our biggest tree in the museum. It took two people one day to put the lights on it," Shifke said. "This is the first year that we have done this tree in multicolored lights."

After touring the rooms, guests can sip hot cider and eat cookies on the hotel veranda. A barbershop quartet or musical ensemble perform Christmas music nightly.

"I want to bring my mom here," said Erin Corey, a student at the University of South Florida.

This year's stroll includes the Changing Faces of Santa, a new exhibit featuring artists' depictions of the Santa character, from stern and slender to jovial and stout.

The display also has more than 45 original Christmas cards from the Hallmark Archives and Design Collection. The grouping shows how the Santa icon evolved. The exhibit room has a large glass display case with antique ornaments and early day Christmas lights. Old toys decorate throughout.

"This is a doll that was one of the first talking dolls. She's from 1923 and she is called Dolly Reckord," Shifke said.

The stroll is the museum's only fundraiser that goes toward preserving the building and supporting education programs, she said. Last year, more than 12,000 people attended.

"This has become quite a family tradition," she said. "We are hoping that people will come and make the stroll part of their holiday tradition."

- Jonathan Milton can be reached at 226-3374 or at milton@sptimes.com

The 22nd annual Victorian Christmas Stroll runs through Dec. 23. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at the Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W Kennedy Blvd. Tickets are $9 for adults and $3 for children ages 12 and younger. For information, call 254-1891.