Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and he lives at the Mary Elizabeth
Hopkins Santa Claus Museum in Columbus, Texas – all 2,000 of him!
Plump and lean, squat and tall, smiley and sleepy, no two St. Nicks are
alike. They come from around the world and are made of everything from
corn shuck to fine crystal to fragile celluloid.
Making merry are Santa music boxes and Santa bells, Santa toys and Santa banks, Santa nutcrackers and a ho-ho-whole lot more.
The cheery collection of Mary Elizabeth Hopkins includes some
Santa Clauses that are educational. There’s also an exquisite Duncan
Royale series which depicts the St. Nicholas legend by country, while
figurines on the antique mantel show the evolution of the American
Santa, who wasn’t always so roly-poly.
The Santa Claus Museum is open Mondays and Thursdays from 10
a.m.-4 p.m., with extended hours during Columbus’ annual Christmas on
the Colorado celebration.
For more information, call (979) 732-5135, or visit columbustexas.org.
