Event Details (U.S. National Park Service)

Fee:

Free.

Dates & Times

Date:

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Time:

9:00 AM

Duration:

11 hours

Type of Event

Cultural/Craft Demonstration

Living History

Performance

Talk

Description

You are invited to find your park this holiday season at Hampton National Historic Site. Join us for Holidays at Hampton and experience American holiday traditions from 1790 to the modern era. This year we will be highlighting traditions of the 19th century as experienced by the family that owned the estate and the enslaved individuals who once lived and worked there. Walk the halls of the historic mansion and discover the origins of well-known holiday traditions, such as the Christmas tree. Join a guided tour of the Lower Farm and learn about the holiday traditions and experiences of the enslaved. Other activities will include arts and crafts, music performances, African American storytelling, and a chance to meet Santa Claus.

Saturday, December 14

Schedule of Events

Mansion

10 am, 10:30 am & 11 am: Guided mansion tours. Join National Park Service volunteers as they guide you through seven generations of life at Hampton.

1 pm - 4 pm: Open House. Travel through decades of holiday traditions and learn more about the origans of many holiday customs.
2 pm - 4 pm: Caroling in the Great Hall. Enjoy the Sounds of the season with Christmas carols performed by the Larks-Junior League of Baltimore.
6 pm - 8 pm: "Candlelight" Open House. Walk from room to room and experience the mansion during a holiday evening. ConneXions High School Choir will perform holiday favorites in the Great Hall.

Please note that the Mansion will be closed for tours from 4 pm - 6 pm in order to prepare for the evening Open House. Activities will be available at the Lower Farm and Visitor Contact Station will be available during that time.

Orangery

2 pm - 4 pm: "A New Look: Elements of Hampton Mansion." Bob Cramer, Historic Hampton, Inc. Artist in Residence, and his students will showcase photographs of Hampton National Historic Site.

Lower House
12 pm - 4 pm: 19th Century Arts and Crafts. Create your own popcorn and cranberry garland, Victorian-style holiday cards, and corn husk dolls.
2 pm - 3 pm: "Our Family Tells Holiday Stories on the Plantation," in the style of African American storytelling.
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm: "Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters." Learn more about the experiences of the enslaved at Hampton during a guided tour of the Lower Farm.

Visitor Contact Station
9 am - 8 pm: Stop by the Visitor Contact Station for information, a gift shop, and restrooms. 5 pm - 8 pm: Free hot cider and cookies will be available, courtesy of Historic Hampton, Inc.

Admission and Fees

Admission and participation in all programs and activities are free. Reservations are not necessary and will not be taken, with the exception of the Guided Mansion Tours.
Timed-entry tickets will be required for the 10 am, 10:30 am, and 11 am Guided Mansion Tours on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are free of charge and will be available on a first come, first served basis at the Visitor Contact Station beginning at 9 am on the day of the tours. Tickets for Sunday's tours will not be distributed on Saturday. All members of your party must be present to recieve a ticket.
Tickets will not necessary to attend the Mansion Open Houses.

Parking

Free on-site parking will be available, but limited. Additional free parking will be available approximately 1 mile west of the park at Towson United Methodist Church at 501 Hampton Lane. A free, ADA accessible, shuttle bus will transport visitors to and from Hampton National Historic Site. The shuttle bus will make the following stops along its route: Visitor Contact Station, upper (mansion) parking lot, Lower Farm, and Towson United Methodist Church. Shuttle bus hours of operation: 12pm - 9pm on Saturday and 12pm - 6pm on Sunday.
Vehicles will not be permitted to park along Hampton Lane. This includes the grassy areas in front of the park boundary fencing and park gates.

Accessibility

The Visitor Contact Station, Farm House, and first floor of the Mansion are ADA accessible. Please note that the second floor of the Mansion is not accessible. ADA parking will be available both on site and at Towson United Methodist Church on a first come, first serve basis. The courtesy shuttle is ADA accessible.