Winter Wonderland: The Coleman Collection
The Tradition Continues
November 23 - December 30
Visit with some of your favorite animated figures from Coleman’s celebrated Winter Wonderland Collection, Courthouse Galleries, High & Court streets. 757-393-8543 | www.courthousegalleries.com
• Open Tue-Sat: 10am-8pm and Sun: 12-8pm
•
Closed Mondays, including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
Winter Wonderland: A Brief History
In existence since 1966, the original Winter Wonderland at the Coleman's Nursery featured an animated figure "Sleeping Santa" which had a sign that read "Do not wake until December 24th." Winter Wonderland quickly became a tradition with many area families and those throughout the Hampton Roads region.
In 2004 the nursery closed, the property was sold, and the popular collection was in need of a home. The Portsmouth Museums Foundation negotiated a five-year financial pledge to Coleman's for the purchase of the collection in order keep it in Portsmouth for future generations to enjoy.
Through the joint efforts of the Museums Foundation, museum staff and countless volunteers... the tradition continues at the Courthouse Galleries. The museum is now transformed each November and December into a spectacular showcase of thousands of glittering lights and refurbished animated figures now known as Winter Wonderland: The Coleman Collection.
The Coleman Nursery legacy lives on as Sleeping Santa continues to snore and animated carolers sing familiar Christmas songs. The 1846 Courthouse in Olde Towne Portsmouth has come alive for the past three years with the restored Winter Wonderland which holds vivid memories for Hampton Roads families of elves, snow babies and woodland creatures. The Portsmouth Museums Foundation and the staff of the Portsmouth Museums are to be commended for their vision and dedication to a wonderful community tradition in Portsmouth that continues to delight our visitors – the “young and young at heart”!
Martha Frances Fortson
Executive Director
Portsmouth Museums Foundation
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