{"id":79022,"date":"2024-11-25T14:33:03","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T21:33:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=79022"},"modified":"2024-11-25T14:34:08","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T21:34:08","slug":"tour-holiday-splendor-at-pueblos-rosemount-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/tour-holiday-splendor-at-pueblos-rosemount-museum\/","title":{"rendered":"Step back in time: Holiday splendor at Pueblo\u2019s Rosemount Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Each
Each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, this beautifully preserved 19th-century mansion is decked out in festive Victorian decor, making it a must-do tour for holiday charm and history lovers alike. Photo courtesy of Rosemount Museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, this beautifully preserved 19th-century mansion is decked out in festive Victorian decor, making it a must-see destination for holiday charm and history lovers alike.<\/p>\n

During the holiday season, Pueblo\u2019s historic Rosemount Museum transforms into a winter wonderland, offering one of Colorado\u2019s most enchanting holiday displays. Each year, the mansion dazzles with Victorian-era Christmas decor, from dozens of glittering trees adorned with vintage ornaments to garlands and wreaths that fill each room with festive cheer to banquet tables set for a holiday feast.<\/p>\n

According to Deb Darrow, the museum\u2019s executive director, busy elves begin decorating for the holidays Nov. 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes us about three and a half weeks typically. We try to do two rooms a day depending upon how much labor we have available,\u201d Darrow said.<\/p>\n

Darrow credits her staff, volunteers and the museum\u2019s women’s auxiliary for the heavy lift needed to put out thousands of decorations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will clean and prep the rooms and get everything in place, then the ladies will come in and get to work,\u201d said Darrow. \u201cOn any given day we might have six to eight women helping out, and over the course of the month, between 25 to 30 volunteers have a hand in decorating inside and outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stepping inside the museum feels like traveling back to a Christmas of the past, with every detail reflecting the elegance and charm of the 19th century. Each year, this festive tradition draws thousands of visitors from across the region, making the Rosemount Museum a top destination for those seeking holiday magic with a touch of history.<\/p>\n

\"A
A view from the top of the staircase. Photo courtesy of Pueblo’s Rosemount Museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Darrow said returning visitors can expect subtle changes year to year. The museum will often mix and match things from years past in different rooms.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to give every room a little bit of an upgrade or a little bit of a look that’s a little different. We have many repeat visitors during the holidays, so we definitely want people to see something different every time they come,\u201d\u00a0Darrow said.<\/p>\n

Located just south of UCHealth Parkview Medical Center<\/a> in Pueblo, Colorado, the Rosemount Museum<\/a> has become a must-see destination for history lovers and architecture enthusiasts. Built in 1893 by the prominent Thatcher family, Rosemount\u2019s stunning architecture and decor provide a window into a bygone world of elegance and innovation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the Victorian era is so very different than what we’re used to and there’s a lot of mystery that revolves around it,\u201d said Darrow. \u201cPeople in that time period were so embedded in tradition, and everything was so structured for them. It’s very different from how we live our lives today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before it was a museum, the Rosemount served as residence for the Thatcher family of Pueblo, Colorado. John A. Thatcher, the family patriarch, founded the First National Bank of Pueblo in 1871, which quickly grew into one of the most influential financial institutions in Colorado.<\/p>\n

The Thatchers owned 30 banks in the state and played a significant role in financing and supporting the growth of Pueblo\u2019s infrastructure, businesses, and communities during a period of rapid industrialization and expansion in the American West.<\/p>\n

\u201cConstruction started in 1891 and was completed in 1893, which was incredibly fast for the enormity of the building,\u201d said Darrow. \u201cThere were over 300 people working on it nearly around the clock for that stretch of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 24,000-square-foot mansion was designed by celebrated New York architect Henry Hudson Holly in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, a rarity in Colorado. The result is an impressive combination of artistic and architectural grandeur.<\/p>\n

The building features red rhyolite exterior blocks cut from a quarry near Castle Rock, Colorado and intricate woodwork sourced from different types of trees shipped from across the country. Visitors can view 37 richly appointed rooms, each displaying custom-made furniture, stained-glass windows, and elegant textiles that have been meticulously preserved to retain their historic charm.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Rosemount Museum was once home to the Thatcher family, a prominent Pueblo family. Photo courtesy Rosemount Museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 1969, Thatcher descendants turned Rosemount into a museum, and it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Rosemount Museum offers tours, special events, and educational programs, making it a favorite among locals and tourists.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s a great way to spend an hour or two and really get into the holiday mood. It’s just such a fun place to be during holidays,\u201d\u00a0Darrow said.<\/p>\n

Plan your tour of the Rosemount Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Rosemount Museum is located at\u202f419 W. 14th St., Pueblo, Colorado, 81003. <\/strong>Note that the last tour of the day is at 2:30pm.<\/p>\n

Directions to Rosemount Museum:<\/strong><\/h2>\n