Families: Historic holidays at Campbell House

The people at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture are decking the Campbell House halls for the holiday.

“Campbell House Holidays is something we’ve done every Christmas season for a long, long time,” said David Brum, the MAC’s community learning manager.

The mansion next door to the MAC was the home of Amasa and Grace Campbell and their daughter, Helen. It was designed by Kirtland K. Cutter. After her mother’s death in 1924, Helen Campbell (then Mrs. W.W. Powell) donated the mansion to the Eastern Washington State Historical Society.

For the holidays, the house is decorated as it would have been around 1910. Brum said his favorite decorations are the garlands strung in the formal dining room.

“We have pictures of the house when the Campbells were living there,” he said. “The curators have made it look like it did.”

Visitors can play games, go on a scavenger hunt or help roll out sugar cookies with Hulda the cook. Along with Hulda, actors will be portraying Mrs. Campbell and a coachman.

The first day of Campbell House Holidays coincides with the museum’s monthly Super Saturday. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., artist Gloria Fox will be in the MAC Art Studio helping visitors make sponge-painted snowmen, as well as a Victorian ornament and a take-home kit for a real snowman (when snow finally comes). Artist Patti Simpson Ward will help visitors create a memento of the Campbell House tree.

And the decorations will still be up for First Day, or Jan. 1, when visitors can use First Night buttons for admission to the MAC.

Kimberly Lusk

What: Campbell House Holidays

Where: Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First Ave.

When: Saturday through Jan. 4. The Campbell House is open noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. The MAC is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Christmas Day.

Admission: $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors, $5 for students, free for children 5 and younger.

Info: http://northwestmuseum.org or (509) 456-3931