The Walter P. Chrysler Museum will deck its displays in nostalgia Nov. 15 – Dec. 30 with “Cars, Trees & Traditions.”
The museum’s fourth annual holiday exhibition is enhanced for 2008 with a new stroll down memory lane, Seasons of Traditions.
The exhibition opens with a family fun event Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cars, Trees & Traditions showcases American holiday customs from the early 1900s to the 1980s through 23 vignettes that pair accurately decorated evergreen trees with vehicles of the same eras. The vignettes also feature vintage ads and nostalgic images –- many from the archives of Wayne State University’s Walter P. Reuther Library -– that showcase styles, events and products of seasons past. The exhibition also features timelines of popular toys and gifts as well as holiday greetings from the Chrysler Historical Archives.
Seasons of Traditions is a continuously running video of still images featuring a heartwarming glimpse into the celebratory homes and holiday customs across the generations of dozens of Detroit-area families. The photos showcase memories of decorated trees, opening gifts, holiday meals, baking cookies, outdoor play and other fond traditions.
Cars, Trees & Traditions kicks off Saturday, Nov. 15, with family fun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., including:
- visits with Santa in a vintage Dodge truck – cameras are welcome
- live performances by the Lake Orion High School Choir at 11 a.m. and noon
- air brush face painting from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- a host of holiday crafts
- sweet treats
The Museum’s gift shop will also offer 10 – 40 percent discounts on all collectibles so guests can get a jump on holiday shopping. The shop offers a wide range of merchandise including die-cast models, clothing, jewelry, home and office accessories and books.
Admission for Cars, Trees & Traditions’ opening festivities is $6 per person – ages 2 and up – and $25 per family.
Through Dec. 30, Cars, Trees & Traditions is open for self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday and noon – 6 p.m. Sunday. The Museum is closed every Monday, Nov. 26 and 27 and Dec. 24 and 25.
General museum admission is $6 for adults and $3 for juniors (6 – 12) and seniors (62 and older). Children 5 years old and younger are free. Admission is $3 per person for groups of 15 or more with advance registration.
The Walter P. Chrysler Museum is located at the corner of Featherstone and Squirrel Rds. on the grounds of Chrysler’s Auburn Hills Complex. From I-75, take exit 78 (Chrysler Dr.) and follow the Museum signs.
For more about the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, visit http://www,chryslerheritage.com or call 888-456-1924.
The Walter P. Chrysler Museum is a public charity described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The museum accepts donations of cash, securities, vehicles and other property and all contributions tax-deductible to the fullest extent provided by law.