"Christmas at the Mansions" tickets go on sale November 1

BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL - Three mansions for the price of one is this year's Christmas gift being offered by the twin cities of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, and tickets for the affair go on sale November 1.

A rare treat is being offered the evening of Saturday, December 15 when three of Bloomington-Normal's most significant, historic mansions will feature evening holiday tours and free shuttle transportation for one low price. Tour hours are from 4 to 9 p.m. Tickets for the tours are $8 per person and may be purchased at Casey's Garden Shop, E-Free Church, Engraving Express, The Garlic Press, Kelly's Bakery and Café, Schnucks Supermarket, and the David Davis Mansion.

Three of the community's most elegant historic homes—The David Davis Mansion State Historic Site at 1000 E. Monroe, Bloomington; Broadview Mansion at 1301 S. Fell Avenue, Normal; and the Vrooman Mansion at 701 E. Taylor, Bloomington—will be festooned with vintage Christmas decorations and open for special Christmas evening tours from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 15. Gourmet holiday foods will be served at the Vrooman Mansion, courtesy of the three participating mansions, and the David Davis Mansion will also offer a selection of tasty Christmas treats donated by Schnuck's, Lancasters, Great Harvest Bread Company, Janet's Cakes, and the Tea Ladies. The Mansion tour will also feature seasonal music and costumed guides, who will show visitors what a typical Victorian Christmas celebration was like when the Davis family lived there.

Christmas at the Mansions is a fundraising event benefiting Immanuel Bible Foundation, the David Davis Mansion, and the Alzheimer's Association (the community charity adopted by the Vrooman Mansion in 2007). Signature Sponsor of this year's event is Insight Communications and the corporate sponsor is Stark Excavating.

Visitors may park either on the Davis Mansion grounds or in the parking lot of the Second Presbyterian Church of Bloomington. (The church lot may be entered at the intersection of Prairie and Market Streets.) A continuous shuttle service will transport visitors from both of these locations to all three mansions.

The David Davis Mansion Foundation uses its portion of the funds raised by the event to purchase artifacts for the mansion's annual Christmas exhibit and to provide special school and adult tours in December. Immanuel Bible Foundation uses its funds to provide special programs for the community, and the Vrooman Mansion will use its funds to support the Alzheimer's Association.

The Victorian-style David Davis Mansion, known by the family as Clover Lawn, was built in 1872 for U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Davis and his wife, Sarah. The Davis Mansion will also be lavishly decorated for Christmas and open for free public tours from November 23 - December 30, 2007; tours will be given during the site's normal operating hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The David Davis Mansion is administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. For more information about the Davis Mansion, visit the website at www.daviddavismansion.org.

The Edwardian-style Broadview Mansion was built in 1906 for Bird and Margaret Van Leer, who operated a successful Bloomington business for many years. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Van Leer founded Immanuel Bible Foundation (IBF) and used her home as its headquarters. IBF is still located in the mansion. The December 15 tour will offer visitors a chance to tour Broadview Mansion, which is not normally open for public tours. For more information about Broadview Mansion, visit the website: www.ibfoundation.org.

Built in 1869, the Vrooman Mansion was formerly the home of Julia Scott Vrooman, whose family entertained dignitaries such as Adlai E. Stevenson and Eleanor Roosevelt. A visit to the Vrooman Mansion allows visitors to relive the history of nineteenth-century Bloomington, as they imagine themselves being entertained by the Scott and Vrooman families in this elegant home. To learn more about the site, visit the website: www.vroomanmansion.com.

For more information on the December 15 tours, call the David Davis Mansion at (309) 828-1084 or Immanuel Bible Foundation at (309) 452-6710.