Christmas in full swing at Sanilac County Village

Visit lighted trail and historic mansion 

By Barb Pert Templeton

There’s still time to take a drive and enjoy the beautiful holiday decorations at the Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum including walking a lighted Christmas trail and touring the old mansion.

This is the third year that the free Lighted Christmas Trail is being hosted and it welcomes visitors on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 6 p.m. through December, according to Museum Coordinator Dan Finn. In addition, the trail will be open on January 1 and 2 at 6 p.m. before closing for the season.

The walk along the trail is a distance of just under a mile and includes several historic buildings strung up with Christmas lights and an electric lit deer strung up in front of a hunting cabin.

The grounds also include the historic Pullman Kitchen Troop Train Car from 1942. It’s a military kitchen train car that fed military men being transported across the country leading up to deployment during WWII. 

“We just moved the train car to our grounds just over a year ago,” Finn said. 

Vistors can also stop by Santa’s workshop which is a display with lots of decorations that also functions as an “I-Spy” activity. 

“We have printed note cards available for children to follow and use to track down all the items listed,” Finn said.

As for the Loop-Harrison Mansion, the final weekend in December will welcome visitors for the last time this year. All are invited to take a tour and enjoy the beautiful Victorian Christmas decorations displayed throughout the house. 

“These decorations were done with several hours of effort by over 30 volunteers,” Finn said.  Touring the mansion cost $5 per individual and children 12 and under are admitted free. 

Blue Water Healthy Living caught up with Museum Coordinator Dan Finn to get some additional details about the mansion tours. 

Blue Water Healthy Living: How long have you hosted the mansion tours after Christmas?

Museum Coordinator Dan Finn: About five years. The utility of opening tours after Christmas is to give local community residents an activity to do during the winter. Also, we want to give one more opportunity for guests to appreciate the wonderful job our volunteers did in decorating the mansion for the holiday.

BWHL: Are the tours self-guided, at your own pace, or is there a museum representative there?

Finn: The tours would be self-guided at your own pace

BWHL: How long should it take to go through the mansion?

Finn: 15 to 45 minutes roughly but could be whatever timespan the guest is comfortable with.

BWHL: Can you share some examples of the items on display for the public to see?

Finn: Our primary exhibit is a re-creation of the home of the Loop-Harrison Family dating from 1875 to the 1930s. Most notable are our historical medical instruments, tools, and items used by Sanilac pioneer Dr. Joseph Loop. A historic Steinway piano played by Ada Harrison (Loop), our Dickinson-Gould musical organ, made in Lexington Michigan. We have an extensive Military History exhibit featuring many relics including display medals, uniforms, helmets, from both World Wars, Vietnam, and Korea. We have a very intensive Nautical History exhibit, including a bell replica of the sunken Regina cargo ship. We have quilts with custom embroideries and paintings. We have an 1800s family hair wreath on display.

BWHL: Is this tour meant for adults only or families with children too?

Finn: Families with children are welcome.

BWHL: Do the decorations for the mansion come from volunteers or they only put them out?

Finn: Our volunteers have spent countless hours putting up the decorations that we store in our mansion’s basement

BWHL: When can people tour the mansion beyond the holiday hours? 

Finn: Self-guided tours are regularly available during our winter season office hours, Wednesday thru Saturday 11a.m. to 4 p.m. 

The Sanilac Historic Village and Museum is located at 228 S. Ridge Street in Port Sanilac.