Heritage Holidays to light up Clark County Museum

The Clark County Museum isn't just honoring the holidays but is also paying tribute to Las Vegas' history during the season with its annual Heritage Holiday celebration.

During December, the museum, 1830 S. Boulder Highway, is expected to take its historical homes on Heritage Street, which depict certain Las Vegas houses throughout the decades, and decorate them with traditional ornaments, lights and fixtures true to their time.

"I really think people appreciate it," said Diane Bush, who plans to volunteer at the museum during a holiday kick off event.

Visitors can check out the displays during regular museum hours throughout the month, or to see the houses at night, holiday history buffs are invited to Heritage Holidays kick off events scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is free during the two-night celebration.

During Heritage Holidays people can enjoy strolling carolers and holiday music on Heritage Street along with the holiday houses.

The houses are set up year-round to showcase Las Vegas' history, but the decorations are expected to be on display only until January.

"They do an amazing job preparing each home for the holidays," Bush said.

The museum staff has been decorating the houses since early November to prepare Heritage Street for the event.

Dawna Joliff, the exhibit curator for the museum, said to research how each house looked during the holidays, the staff went through catalogs that might have sold home furnishings and designs.

"We got ahold of the Christmas issue," Joliff said. "We had a number of catalogs in our collection."

There also is a house set up to reflect Hanukkah.

"We did a lot of research," Joliff said. "We had one guy tell us he remembers Hanukkah candles being orange, so we made sure to have orange candles."

Inside the houses, Joliff said tables are set with food items that would have reflected traditional meals from cookies to potato pancakes.

"People can find the recipes in the house in case they want to take them and try them at home," Joliff said.

If Joliff can round up enough volunteers for Heritage Holidays, she said the houses should have people dressed up like characters who might have lived during that time - something the staff did last year.

"We have been having a hard time getting volunteers," Joliff said.

Bush is hoping to volunteer as a 1930s housewife.

"I don't think women wore trousers back, then so it is probably going to be a dress," Bush said. "I am a stickler for being historically accurate."

Last year, Bush volunteered as a 1940s housewife wearing a knitted reindeer sweater and ski pants.

"I had a scarf just like Rosie the Riveter-style," Bush said.

The event is slated to have a visit from Santa and his elves at the Enchanted Gazebo.

Children are expected to have an opportunity to make their own holiday ornaments in the children's holiday craft tent.

Free hot cocoa and apple cider are to be available in the visitors area. And patrons can check out a scale-model railroad decked out for the holidays inside the museum's historic Boulder City Depot.

Bush hopes that people visit the Heritage Holiday and come back because of the museum's appeal.

"It is the best unknown treasure," Bush said. "We want to make people aware of its existence. Once you're here, you're hooked. You'll come back again and again."

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 702-387-5201.