Victorian Christmas Stroll – 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel

What: Victorian Christmas Stroll
When: December 1-23, 2010 – 10am-8pm daily
Where: Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606
Cost: $12 for adults, $6 for children. Children under 4 are free

Experience an old-fashioned holiday with your loved ones at Henry B. Plant Museum’s 29th annual Victorian Christmas Stroll from December 1st to 23rd, 2010, 10 am to 8 pm daily.

Beneath towering silver minarets, an extravagantly adorned former Tampa Bay Hotel captures the spirit of the season – Victorian style. There are 14 exhibit rooms; each dazzling with trimmed trees uniquely designed in 19th century themes and antique holiday accessories. While strolling down the Grand Hallway, your spirits will soar as you become immersed in carolers singing, Charles Dickens, much loved toys and wrapped gifts, Christmas stockings and Old Saint Nick.

Unique to this year is a game for children. Where’s Henry? Somewhere amid the myriad of decorations is an image of Henry Plant. Children will be entertained searching for Henry, the founder of the Hotel, strategically placed in each exhibit room. They will be given a checklist and if they can locate his image in every room, they will receive a prize.

At the Victorian Christmas Stroll, the essence of an old-fashioned holiday is observed and honored as Tampa’s most popular family tradition. Complimentary spiced cider and savory cookies will be served on the veranda every day, and each evening (6 – 7:45 pm) carolers will perform music for your merriment. Visitors are invited to sing with the carolers in front of the 18-foot tree in the hallway.

Our Visit

If you love history and Victorian architecture, then I highly recommend a visit. We have lived in the Tampa Bay area for nearly 6 years now, and this was our first visit to the Henry B. Plant Museum (formerly the Tampa Bay Hotel, built in 1891).

Awed by the external beauty of the museum, I determined that this year, I would see the inside of it. Not wanting to chase several children around the museum (wise choice), we waited until four of the children were at the theatre, and three were at a friend’s house, and visited the old hotel with just two children in tow.

The visit was a treat! I have visited several historic Victorian era buildings, but this was by far, I believe, the most beautiful structure I have ever seen!

The veranda on which hot cider and cookies are served during the visit.

Notice the “keyhole” theme that is repeated in brick, trim, arches, — and even in the detail of the mantles throughout.

The children loved the Reading and Writing room, with the old fashioned toys

Every room on tour had information boards and displays explaining the fascinating history of the hotel, and of Henry Plant himself. But, for $2 extra, we rented a handheld device which told the history of certain items and rooms at various checkpoints. It is something that must be held to your ear (like a telephone) to listen to, so, because of my deafness, Rob used it, and summarized a narration for me.