Christmas at the Victoria Mansion

Dear Diary,

I went to Portland last night to see the Christmas display at the Victoria Mansion.  I've never been and I thought it would be a good diversion.  It was absolutely lovely.  Each room is designed by different groups of designers and florists.  It was an over the top experience to be sure!

The mansion was built between 1858 and 1860 by Ruggles Sylvester Morse, a Maine native who made his fortune in New Orleans as a proprietor of luxury hotels.  The house was designed by New Haven, Connecticut architect Henry Austin in the Italianate style.  The mansion was slated for demolition in 1941 when it was saved by J.R. Libby, a retail merchant who had opened the first department store in Portland.

What amazes me about this place is that all the furnishings, drapery, rugs and accessories are original to the 1860 house.  That rarely happens.  I've attached a collage of the house and some of the highlights of the interior.  Today, I'm off to quite a different holiday experience; the Christmas Fair at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker village.  Contrast is energizing I find and these two events will certainly provide that!