The Edna S. Purcell House (now known as the Purcell-Cutts House) is decorated for a 1915 Christmas with the Purcell Family.

Winterlights at the Purcell-Cutts House

Winterlights at the Purcell-Cutts House

November 26, 2016 - January 8, 2017
Purcell-Cutts House
$5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, free to members and children 12 and under.

Designed by William Purcell and George Elmslie in 1913, the Prairie School-style Purcell-Cutts House will be decorated for the holidays to reflect the upper-middle-class, “progressive” lifestyle of the Purcells around 1915. Forty-five minute tours led by costumed docents will emphasize the gifts, toys, food, and social traditions of the period that the Purcells might have enjoyed. For example, many people had begun to reject Victorian knickknacks in favor of useful gifts that reflected modern aesthetic values of simplicity and function. Decorations include a Christmas tree decorated mainly with handmade paper ornaments, some in the Japanese style.

Winterlights tours of the Purcell-Cutts House are given on weekends November 26–January 8 (exempting the weekend of December 24–25). Reserve at Mia’s Visitor Services desks, by calling 612.870.3000, or online.

For Winterlights tours, shuttle service is provided between Mia and the Purcell-Cutts House. The shuttle leaves Mia 15 minutes before scheduled tour times at the house.

The Edna S. Purcell House (now known as the Purcell-Cutts House) is decorated for a 1915 Christmas with the Purcell Family.