Winterlights at the Purcell-Cutts House

Designed by William Purcell and George Elmslie in 1913, the Prairie School-style Purcell-Cutts House will be decorated for the holidays to reflect the upper-middle-class, “progressive” lifestyle of the Purcells around 1915. Forty-five minute tours led by costumed docents will emphasize the gifts, toys, food, and social traditions of the period that the Purcells might have enjoyed. For example, many people had begun to reject Victorian knickknacks in favor of useful gifts that reflected modern aesthetic values of simplicity and function. Decorations include a Christmas tree decorated mainly with handmade paper ornaments, some in the Japanese style.

Winterlights tours of the Purcell-Cutts House are given on weekends November 26–January 8 (exempting the weekend of December 24–25). Reserve at Mia’s Visitor Services desks, by calling 612.870.3000, or online.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.