Mansion holiday tours start today
In the fashion of Kalispell's founding family, the staff at the Conrad Mansion has decked the halls of the venerable house for a seasonlong schedule of Christmas fun.
"It was Mrs. [Alicia] Conrad's favorite holiday," said Sylvie Wood, assistant director of the mansion. "They would celebrate Christmas in a really large way."
For Christmas tours starting today, the mansion is resplendent with the huge tree and rooms bursting with Yuletide decorations from the holiday bazaar plus furniture and other items that were moved out for the bazaar.
"All the items are back out," Wood said. "We bring out things that normally aren't seen - Persian shawls and quilts that date back to the 1800s."
Scheduled Nov. 26 to Dec. 19, guided tours start at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations are recommended for the popular $8 tours, particularly for the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Visitors learn the history of the 13,000 square-feet mansion on Woodland Avenue designed by Kirkland Cutter for Kalispell founder Charles E. Conrad. They get a peek into the gracious 19th century lifestyle while touring the Norman-style interior with quarter-sawn oak trim, eight sandstone fireplaces, diamond-paned, leaded-glass windows and 11 panels of Tiffany-style stained glass.
On holiday tours, guides regale visitors with stories of the Conrad traditions such as inviting all the people staying in hotels to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas at the mansion.
"They could do all sorts of outdoor activities - cross-country skiing, ice skating, riding in horse-drawn sleighs," Wood said. "Some of them would actually spend the night."
Christmas Eve featured a buffet dinner and church at midnight. On Christmas, the family and overnight guests would sit down together for a feast.
"Mrs. Conrad would have gifts for everyone," she said. "She would talk about the spirit of Christmas."
After Charles Conrad died at 52 in 1902, Mrs. Conrad began another tradition of bringing underprivileged children to the mansion for a large meal, to hear stories and sing Christmas carols.
"Silent Night was her favorite," Wood said. "It was always a very special time."
On the tour, guests will see permanent memorials to Mrs. Conrad's love of the holidays like the Christmas tree designed into a large stained-glass window in her former sitting room, the blue room. The mansion also has a special exhibit of antique fur wraps and coats of the era on display.
"It's a wonderful way to come and see the house - it feels like Christmas," Wood said. "We have a wonderful staff of tour guides who love this house."
For $25, visitors may take a tour and sit down to an elegant tea served in the dining room of the mansion on Saturdays starting at 1 p.m., Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11 and 18. Wood said guests need to make reservations by the Wednesday before the Saturday tea so the staff can order the tea sandwiches, cakes and other delicacies.
"It's quite lovely," Wood said.
Reservations also are requested for the Children's Christmas Event featuring photos on Santa's lap in the Great Hall. Scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 16, the event costs $10 for children and $3 for adults with all proceeds benefiting the mansion. The photographer is Jill Layne Courtney of Courtney Photography.
The staff offers a quick walk-through tour of the mansion for adults at the children's event.
The Christmas schedule wraps up with a return of the Glacier Symphony Chorale Chamber Singers from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 21. Standing on the staircase, the chamber singers fill the Great Hall with joyful music of the season while guests enjoy hors d'oevres and beverages.
"They play the Conrad piano which dates back to the 1880s," Wood said. "It's in tune."
Because of limited seating, people need to call or come by the mansion to purchase their $25 tickets. For reservations and tickets, call 755-2166.
Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.