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Date: November 27, 2007
Contact: Celia Suggs, 804 771-2017 x. 22

On Saturday, December 8 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the National Park Service invites the public to enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas Open House and to experience some of Maggie L. Walker's holiday customs.  Decked out with many poinsettias and a tree in the parlor, as remembered by her grandchildren, the holiday decorations will interpret popular Christmas customs during the 1920's.  A select number of Mrs. Walker's personal Christmas objects from the National Park Service collection will be on temporary display in December.  The site, open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, will offer the usual ranger-guided tours every 30 minutes.  The special holiday program includes cider and cookies in the Visitor Center and varied musical performances by Ms. Michele Dickerson and Mrs. Marie Goodman Hunter using original Christmas sheet music from the Maggie L. Walker Collection.

Warm and generous, Mrs. Walker always set out a barrel of hard candy on her front porch at Christmas for her neighbors.  Candy will be available for visitors to take home.

Come to this wonderful site, furnished almost entirely with Mrs. Walker's own furnishings.  See newly reproduced draperies and curtains recently installed in the house.  Plan to do some of your Christmas shopping at the site's Eastern National Bookstore.  Many new books and sales items have been added.  Admission is free!  For more information or to make a reservation for groups of 10 or more people call 804  771-2017 x 24.