Visions of sugar plums will dance in your head when you visit the Santa Claus Museum in Columbus, Texas… the only Santa Museum in the South! An easy drive from San Antonio, Austin, or Houston, Columbus has plenty of comfy lodging accommodations, delicious restaurants, and unique shops where you can knock out your holiday shopping list.
With nearly 5,000 Santas decking its halls, the Santa Claus Museum is a Christmas lover’s dream come true. Make plans to jingle to Columbus this holiday season to visit the Santa Claus Museum!
Mary Elizabeth Youens Hopkins was born in 1913 and was given her first Santa Claus when she was 6 months old. She began actively collecting in the early 1970s and her extensive collection includes Santas made from a variety of materials such as cast iron, china, basket weave, corn shucks, bottle glass, magazines, fabric, dough, and wood.
An almost life-sized Santa Claus, formerly displayed in the Priesmeyer Department Store in Garwood during the 1950s is one of the most popular Santas in her collection. The Hopkins collection features Duncan Royale Santas from around the world, artwork by Norman Rockwell and Thomas Nast, as well as a complete collection of Haddon Sundblom Coca-Cola Santas. Also on display are Mrs. Hopkins’ personal needlepoint pieces, inspired by artwork and magazine covers she’d seen throughout her life.
After her death in January 1990, the Hopkins family donated the entire collection of more than 2,500 pieces to CHPT. It was Mrs. Hopkins’ collection that launched the Santa Claus Museum.
According to santamuseum.org. Source of photos: internet
