White House Historical Society Christmas Ornaments Display

The Sheridan Historical Society Museum has an interesting Christmas display about to be packed away for the rest of the year, but it will stay out through the end of January for you to stop in and see. The display is a collection of the famous White House Christmas ornaments.

The collection was begun by Jackie Kennedy in 1961 as an enlightenment to the annual Christmas display at the White House. An ornament was created each year to honor a previous administration and because administrations come in four-year blocks, it has not taken too long to go back all the way to George Washington’s two administrations.

In 1980, the White House Historical Society adopted these Christmas ornaments as a fundraising project. The public responded overwhelmingly, and it has now become a major source of funds for the Society.

Locally, Betty Lee Cooper began collecting the ornaments several years ago. Just this past year she decided to donate them to the Sheridan Historical Society so they could become part of their annual Christmas decorations here at the Museum. Many visitors have been in the Museum over the holidays and admired the collection display, but come the end of January, they will sadly have to be stored away until this coming November.

If you would like to see them before they are put away, drop by the Museum and take a peek. The museum is located at 315 South Main St. in uptown Sheridan, just on the country side of Hamilton County. They are open every Tuesday and Friday from 1-4 p.m., and every second and fourth Saturday from 1-4 p.m.