Holiday
Memories:
Winter Reminiscences
Th e theme for the holiday exhibit of 2017
builds upon its previous show-stopping
displays of electric model trains (Lionel,
American Flyer, and Bachmann), period
Christmas trees and presents, and other
nostalgia from holiday celebrations dating
from the Postbellum to the 1960s. New
in 2017 is the depiction of the joining of
the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, an
important milestone in American history
and in the Huntington family, founders of
Brookgreen Gardens. An expanded display
of Th e Polar Express returns as does the
collection of model trains including 10
trains (HO, O, O27, S) inside the gallery
and four outdoor G-scale trains.
A full amusement park-in-miniature
features Th e Big Dipper, an above-thetrack
style wooden roller coaster, and Th e
Scorpion, an inverted roller coaster, plus a
“gold-mine style” wooden coaster and a sleek
monorail. Around the coasters are traditional
amusement park rides and activities such
as Bumper Cars, Carousel, Round Up,
Scrambler, a miniature golf course, and a
bandstand dance hall. All of the landscapes
and sets (trains and amusement park) were
designed and fabricated by curatorial and
exhibits staff .
In the back alcoves, period Christmas
trees display authentic ornaments, lights,
and gifts from the 1930s-1960s. In the rear
of the gallery is “Snow Village” with snowcovered
mountain slopes, a valley, and a
ski lift, all generously donated by members
of Brookgreen Gardens. In conjunction
with the Transcontinental Railroad, the
front alcoves feature the Collis Huntington
Parlor, c. 1870, and the Archer Huntington
Parlor, c. 1900, with period furnishings on
loan from Th eodosia’s Antiques. Paintings
of period subjects and winter scenes by
nationally-known artist Glenn Harrington
ornament the parlors and south wall of
the gallery. Th e antiques and paintings
are available for purchase, with a portion
of the proceeds to benefi t the Brookgreen
Sculpture Purchase Fund.
Th e exhibit is on view through January 1,
2018 in the Jennewein Gallery of the Rainey
Sculpture Pavilion.
Electric Model Trains on display during Nights of a Thousand Candles