A couple of weekends ago, hubby and I headed out in the car to get out of the house for a while before the daily thunderstorms hit. We really didn’t have any particular route in mind. We just started heading for the coast and figured if it didn’t cloud over, we might get to the beach. But, along the way, we passed a sign for the little town of Christmas. On a whim, we turned off and decided to check it out. We really didn’t check out the town but we did go visit Fort Christmas Historical Park. You can find the following at the entrance to the turn-off. I took so many pictures at this place, I’ll post them in two or three separate posts.
From the brochure: In 1976 as a bicentennial project Orange County Parks and Recreation Department, with support of the Army Corps of Engineers, began construction of a full-size replica of Fort Christmas. The new replica was completed in December of 1977, one mile south of the original location, exactly 140 years later.
In May of 1990 the Fort Christmas Historical Society was formed. Through their efforts a Master Plan was developed to create a living history settlement. The society has become instrumental in the preservation of rural heritage of East Orange County.
After stopping in the reception building, the first place we visited was the 1932 School Lunchroom. The lunchroom served home cooked meals and local women were hired as cooks. There were never any leftovers! Later it became a classroom.
There were lots of kitchen exhibits.
The next building we visited was the 1906 School. Union School became Christmas Elementary in 1959 and closed due to overcrowding in 1969. The two room school grew with the addition of a stage in front and a small classroom in back. Later the front room became the kitchen, lunchroom, and auditorium.
Next time I’ll post the photos from the Fort and Museum.
What an interesting afternoon you spent – in Christmas no less – love it! 🙂
It was quite an interesting park and made for a lovely afternoon! 🙂
Noice! 🙂
Really neat. My wife and I love this type of thing too. Thanks!
It was a very pleasant surprise!
Fun!!!😀
What a wonderful discovery. I feel old as those students desks look like the ones in my first grade classroom. 🙂
Heehee! I thought it was just me! Some of them, I think I used all through school! 😛
Christmas all year! Love the old classroom and kitchen shots!!!
The classroom was one of my favorites! 🙂
Love it …what a great little town and off course I was smitten with the kitchens 🙂 what’s with me and cooking ? look forward to the next posts hugs Fozziemum x
Thanks, Bev. I wonder if they used all those stoves or if they were just collected through the years!
Who knows but boy they are lovely 🙂 all those meals …
I love all that antique stuff and old, simply life. (Whoa, I said that while typing on a computer!! A bit of irony there, eh?)
Hahaha! Life is filled with irony! I love antiques, too. I sometimes used to shop for them on the computer! 😀
Great pictures and this looks like a great place to visit. Thank you for shearing .
It’s also a great place for family outings. They have a big pavilion and ball park and a place to grill that I think can be rented. I’ll be posting some more pictures! 🙂
I was showing them to the wife. I also told her the next time we go to that part of the states we need to go there.
So well preserved and displayed. Thank you for the tour, Linda!
Glad you enjoyed it, Amy. More to come! 🙂
That was awesome, cuz!! I love all the old history and things!! Maybe someday we can venture down that way but until then I’m thoroughly enjoying your picture tour!!
Thanks, Sue! More to come on Christmas! I keep trying to figure out how to get back up that way. With nine animals, we don’t get out much! 😀
[…] on from my previous post, Christmas in June, here are some more photos and information on Fort Christmas. The Fort itself is a replica […]
how interesting! I love going to museums like that.
So much to see, so little time! 😀
[…] First: Christmas in June […]