Visit Kenmore this holiday season for an exhibit of highly detailed, replica dollhouses – including the mansion – and miniatures in the Crowninshield Museum Building. Share memories of your dollhouse with your family as you explore life in miniature! Put your mind and eye to the test with our “I Spy Miniatures” challenge – fun for young and old alike! Here is just a sampling of the dollhouses and miniatures on display this year…
Loaned by Peggy Severson
Loaned by John Earl
Loaned by Jocelyn Barth
Loaned by Rebeckah Furrow
Loaned by Pat Thorburn
Loaned by Anna Jennings
Loaned by James Opher
Loaned by Becky Watson
Loaned by Maureen & Dan Turgeon
Loaned by Linda Pool
Loaned by Mary Stevenson
Dollhouse version of Historic Kenmore
Kenmore’s hours are Monday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Kenmore is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Exhibit ends on December 30. Admission to Kenmore and exhibit: $12 adults, $6 students, under 6 free. Exhibit only: $6 adults, $3 students, under 6 free.
On Saturday, November 19, George Washington’s Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore both presented their annual holiday workshops devoted to teaching attendees either how to build a gingerbread house or to create a holiday themed “room box.” Here are some photos from both workshops…
These two workshops are presented in preparation for Ferry Farm’s annual Gingerbread House Contest & Exhibit as well as Kenmore’s annual A Wee Christmas Dollhouses and Miniatures Show.
The 33rd Annual Gingerbread House Contest & Exhibit at George Washington’s Ferry Farm is a long-standing holiday tradition and, this year, runs from December 8th through the 30th. This year’s theme is “Holiday Songs.” For all the details about entering the contest or visiting the exhibit, click here. Adults and children alike will enjoy the sights and smells of the festive creations displayed at Ferry Farm!
A Wee Christmas Dollhouse & Miniatures Show at Historic Kenmore runs from December 8th through the 30th. Adults and children alike will enjoy this exhibit of highly detailed, replica dollhouses – including a Kenmore dollhouse – and miniatures in the Crowninshield Museum Building. Share memories of your dollhouse with your family as you explore life in miniature! Put your mind and eye to the test with our “I Spy Miniatures” challenge – fun for young and old alike! For all the details about visiting the show, click here.
Both Ferry Farm and Kenmore are closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.
Visit Kenmore this holiday season for an exhibit of highly detailed, replica dollhouses – including the mansion – and miniatures in the Crowninshield Museum Building. Share memories of your dollhouse with your family as you explore life in miniature! Put your mind and eye to the test with our “I Spy Miniatures” challenge – fun for young and old alike!
Dollhouses on display at the 5th Annual “A Wee Christmas at Kenmore.”
“Log Cabin” by Featured Exhibitor Kathy Opdycke
“Mary Poppins” by Kathy Opdycke
“Asian Roombox” by Vickie Prosser
“Assorted Miniatures” by Linda Pool
“Assorted Miniatures” by Peggy Severson
“Earl’s Boat Shop” by John Earl
“Jane’s Bakery” by Mary Stevenson
“Japanese Fish Seller” by Julie Silvester
“Matryoshka Dolls” by Anna Jennings
“Santa’s Gingerbread House” by Vicky Bickel
“Santa’s Gingerbread House” mail
“The Double Dragon” by Jocelyn Barth
“The House of Many Corners” by James Opher
“The Toy Chest of Whimsy Street” by Joanna Borgman
“Uoonique Christmas Shop” by Becky Watson
“Wild Blue Stables Barn” by Haley Anne DeBoeser
Kenmore’s hours are Monday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Kenmore is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Exhibit ends on December 30. Admission to Kenmore and exhibit: $12 adults, $6 students, under 6 free. Exhibit only: $6 adults, $3 students, under 6 free.
The George Washington Foundation wishes everyone a joyous holiday season! Enjoy these from our month of festive happenings and decorations at George Washington’s Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore.
There will still be time to see Kenmore and Ferry Farm adorned for the season and delight in each site’s annual display of dollhouses, miniatures, and gingerbread creations until December 30. For details about these exhibits and our holiday hours, visit kenmore.org/events.
The nearly completed reconstructed Washington house at Ferry Farm.
Carl’s Frozen Custard in gingerbread.
Christmas tree in the Visitor Center at Ferry Farm.
Gingerbread man.
Wreath on the Visitor Center door at Ferry Farm.
A gingerbread Humpback Bridge.
Kenmore in the snow in early January 2017.
Hacienda in Kenmore’s dollhouse exhibit.
Wreath on the gate at Kenmore.
Movie theater in Kemore’s dollhouse exhibit.
The traditional 18th century dessert table inside of Kenmore.
In this festive holiday video, Curator Meghan Budinger tells us about this year’s Wee Christmas Dollhouse & Miniatures Exhibit at Historic Kenmore, which runs until December 30.
Visit Kenmore this holiday season for an exhibit of highly detailed, replica dollhouses – including the mansion – and miniatures in the Crowninshield Museum Building. Share memories of your dollhouse with your family as you explore life in miniature! Put your mind and eye to the test with our “I Spy Miniatures” challenge – fun for young and old alike!
Kenmore’s hours are Monday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Kenmore is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Exhibit ends on December 30. Admission to Kenmore and exhibit is $10 adults, $5 students, under 6 free while admission to the dollhouse exhibit only is $5 adults, $2.50 students, under 6 free.
“Tattersall Hall” – Sabrina Hundley
Wreath on a window of Tattersall Hall
Tree through the window of Tattersall Hall
Inside Tattersall Hall
Dining Room in Tattersall Hall
“Castle” – Julie Silvester
“The Warrenton House” – James Opher
Inside the Warrenton House
“Monticello” – James Opher
“The Wedding Cake House” – James Opher
“Ichabod Washburn House” – Peggy Severson
Inside the Ichabod Washburn House
“My Teenage Bedroom Wall of the 1960s” – Peggy Severson
“Givens General Store & Bakery” – Paul Limerick
“Spring Time” – James Opher
“The Thronhill” – James Opher
“A&W Soda Shop” – James Opher
“Firehouse” – Julie Silvester
“Backyard Art Studio” – Joanna Borgman
Inside the backyard art studio
“Mary Poppins” – Katherine Opdycke
“1211 Prince Edward Street” – Allen Green III
“Library” – Julie Silvester
“Attic” – Joanna Borgman
“Flutterby Bakery” – Joanna Borgman
“Bamboo Nativity” from Taiwan – Anna Jennings
“Wooden Nativity” from Tanzania – Anna Jennings
“British Soldiers” – Anna Jennings
“Painted Metal Nativity” from Mexico – Anna Jennings
For the second year, Historic Kenmore presents “A Wee Christmas,” an exhibit for the holiday season of highly detailed, replica dollhouses – including the Kenmore mansion – and miniatures in the Crowninshield Museum Building. Come to Kenmore and share memories of your dollhouse with children and grandchildren as you explore the treasures in this festive display!
The dollhouses and miniatures of the “A Wee Christmas” remain on display until December 30. Historic Kenmore is open Monday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m and on Sunday from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Kenmore will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Admission cost for viewing the dollhouse exhibit only is $5 adults, $2.50 students, under 6 free. There is an additional fee for a guided tour of Kenmore. Visit www.kenmore.org for more details.
“Baxter House” submitted by James Opher, Julie Silvester, owner of Lilliput’s Doll House Shop, and Traci Haden, president of Virginia Minature Enthusiast Region E-1. Originally built by Mr. & Mrs. Baxter the house has over 16 rooms including a Grand Ballroom.
“Harris Farm” submitted 6-year-old collector Emily Jane Harding, who received the house from her grandmother.
“Smaller Home and Garden” submitted by Fernanda L. Kain.
“Petite Princess Collection” submitted by Jessica and Nancy Burger features dollhouse furniture that first appeared in the Sears Christmas Wish Book in 1964.
“Santons” submitted by Anna Jennings. A Santon is a small hand-painted terracotta Nativity scene figure made in France’s Provence region.
“Teapot Tea Room (at the North Pole)” submitted by Joanna Borgman even includes tiny bags of “Kenmore-blend” tea.
“Bartlett House” submitted by Katherine S. Opdycke.
“Place of Worship” submitted by James Opher has features to represent the Catholic, Islamic, Methodist, and non-demoninational faiths.
“The Apple Blossom” submitted by David Budinger is the childhood dollhouse of Kenmore’s Curator Meghan Budinger.
“Georgian Court” submitted by 8-year-old collector Elizabeth Harding, who was given the house by her mother.
“A Collection” submitted by Gail Steffey includes a display of leather furniture and a glass conservatory.
“Antique Dollhouse” submitted by Susan Larson
“Santa’s Slumber” submitted by Jessica Waltz
“Lost But Not Forgotten” submitted by James Opher is a diorama of a Japanese castle.
“Santa’s Workshop” submitted by Peggy Severson
Some of the dollhouse exhibitors: (l-r) Meghan Budinger, James Opher, Joanna Borgman, Fernanda L. Kain, Gail Steffey, Peggy Severson, (front) Elizabeth and Emily Jane Harding.
This year is our first-ever “A Wee Christmas — Dollhouses and Miniatures Show” at Historic Kenmore! “A Wee Christmas” has brought together many different dollhouses, miniature scenes, and figurines loaned by friends, neighbors, and staff for visitors to Kenmore Plantation to enjoy. The highly detailed, replica dollhouse of Kenmore on display in our Crowninshield Museum inspired this new holiday event. You can read a blog post about the history of the Kenmore dollhouse here.
The photos in the gallery below show several of the whimsical dollhouses and miniatures on display. To enjoy all of them up close, visit Historic Kenmore before the exhibit ends on December 30. Check out the events page on http://www.kenmore.org for more information!
“Country Church.” Submitted by James Opher.
A glimpse through the church’s front door.
Inside the country church.
“Antique Dollhouse.” Submitted by Susan Larson.
Susan bought her dollhouse during a visit to Fredericksburg, not knowning that she would soon move to the city.
“The Apple Blossom.” Submitted by David Budinger.
David built the house for his daughter, Meg (now Kenmore’s curator) around 1990.
Christmas tree inside “The Apple Blossom.”
“Plantation House.” Submitted by James Opher.
It was built in 1975…
…and renovated in 2014.
Inside the “Plantation House.”
“Bonaise” Submitted by Lucy Harmon.
“Bonaise” is a replica of the Harmons’ old farmhouse on White Oak Road in Stafford County.
Scene from “The Nutcracker.” Submitted by Anne Higgins.
“Victorian Dollhouse.” Submitted by Beth Waters Hunsinger & son Jackson Waters Hunley.
Santa gave Beth this house when she was about 9 years old.
Now, her son Jackson enjoys rearranging the furniture inside.
Interior of “Rammings’ House.” Submitted by Anna Jennings.
Made by Michael & Gloria Ramming in 1985, the house is a miniature of their home and furnishings in San Francisco, California.
“The Quilt Shop.” Submitted by Carol House.
The shop was featured in the Miniature Quilts magazine.
Dollhouses on display as part of our first-ever “A Wee Christmas” Dollhouses & Miniatures Show.
This holiday season, we’re excited to share with our visitors the many dollhouses and miniatures loaned by friends, neighbors, and staff to form our first-ever dollhouses and miniatures show that we’re calling “A Wee Christmas at Historic Kenmore”. A highly detailed, replica dollhouse of Kenmore on display in our Crowninshield Museum served as the inspiration behind this new exhibit. Like its real life counterpart, this unique Kenmore replica has a fascinating history all its own.
While on a visit to Fredericksburg in the spring of 1984, Florence White, an enthusiast of Georgian architecture, fell in love with Kenmore. She had been searching for years to find just the right place to make into a grand historical dollhouse. Kenmore with its simple, symmetric windows and imposing brick walls was perfect.
The dollhouse version of Historic Kenmore.
However, Florence needed someone who would construct this dollhouse with the degree of detail and intricacy that would mimic the elegant original. After a long unsuccessful search there came a chance meeting with Jim Freytag, a retired railroad man turned miniature enthusiast, and she knew she had her builder.
Jim’s first task was to visit the home that Florence wanted to replicate and gather as many details as he could. He wanted to make it as structurally authentic as possible from the number of bricks between the windows to the outside steps worn down with years of use. He toured the house taking notes on the particulars of each room, the furniture, the décor, and the layout. Photographs were not permitted inside the house so Jim purchased postcards in order to get better detail for the intricate plaster ceilings and mantels.
Some 2700 hours of work, 18,929 bricks and over $4000 later Florence had her Kenmore dollhouse. Jim had completed four bedrooms, a dining room, living room, drawing room, and study. They are each equipped with miniature pieces of furniture from a large cherry-stained Queen Anne table in the dining room flanked by two portraits of Colonel Lewis and Mrs. Lewis to canopy beds, brass candlesticks and leather boots in the bedrooms.
A view of the Chamber inside the Kenmore dollhouse.
Over twenty-six years later, the dollhouse now sits in the museum gallery at Kenmore’s visitor center for all to view. Each room still has the exact furnishings so painfully and meticulously created by Jim and positioned to Florence’s specifications. The house is a time capsule which shows Kenmore before renovations completed nearly a decade ago. Visitors can see pieces of furniture that are no longer on display and can understand the dimensions of the upper floor rooms which are not currently open to the public.
Florence’s devotion to detail and Jim’s immense skill leave us with a whimsical model of Kenmore which exudes all the elegance and beauty of the original that would have made the Colonel and Betty proud.
You can see Florence and Jim’s replica of Kenmore as well as all the other wonderful dollhouses and miniatures that make up “A Wee Christmas at Historic Kenmore” until December 30.
The George Washington Foundation wishes everyone a joyous holiday season! Enjoy these from our month of festive happenings and decorations at George Washington’s Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore.
Lives & Legacies 