On Saturday, December 2 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., the History Museum will celebrate Tree Treasures.  Your family can prepare for an old-fashioned holiday season by creating their own Victorian ornaments.

According to legend, the first Christmas tree was decorated in Germany. While German immigrants brought the tradition to North America, it became widely accepted during the Victorian period. Newspaper reports of the holiday celebrations of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, her German husband, quickly spread the popularity of decorated trees across England and the United States.

Tree Treasures is held in conjunction with Redwood City’s Hometown Holidays celebration.

Making red and white paper garlands

Hands-On Activities

People made their own ornaments for early Victorian Christmas trees. They hung fancy cakes, gingerbreads and cornucopias filled with sweets and nuts on their trees. By the late 1800s, people decorated trees with many store-bought ornaments such as glass balls or baubles.

Among the crafts, kids can create the following:

  • Decorate a “gingerbread” ornament
  • Create a Victorian cornucopia
  • Assemble a paper chain garland
  • And more

Details

Date:
Saturday, December 2, 2023

Time:
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Last admission at 3:45 p.m.

Location:
History Museum

Cost:
FREE!

Holiday Concert

Nine performers in Civil War uniforms holding brass instruments

At 1 p.m., join us for a Courthouse Docket presentation – a holiday performance by the Fort Point Garrison Brass Band in our Historic Courtroom A.

A Perfect Adventure for the Whole Family

A young girl with festive antlers and young boy sitting in a carriage at Tree Treasures at the San Mateo County History Museum
Young boy holding a handcrafted ornament at the San Mateo History museum
Young girl in holiday attire and paper crown making a tree ornament at the San Mateo History museum
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