HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The public is invited to experience an 1800s Christmas at Stone House Museum, on Saturday, Dec. 6.

The open house will take place from 4:30 to 7 p.m., at 18174 Hidden Valley Road, Hidden Valley Lake.

The event coincides with Hidden Valley Lake Association tree lighting ceremony at Greenview Restaurant on Hartmann Road.

There will be refreshments and hot apple cider. Holiday gift baskets will be available. Music will be provided by locally known guitarist, John Zimmerman.

Built in 1853 as Lake County's first stone house, the museum is a California State Historical Monument.

The house reflects family life of the era, filled with period furnishings and Christmas decorations.

Holiday traditions in the 1800s were much the same as today, except in the Old West.  

Pioneers decorated homes with natural materials, including evergreens, pine cones, holly, berries and nuts.

Christmas trees were a part of the holiday decorations. The trees were adorned with homemade decorations – ribbons, shiny pieces of metal, popcorn or paper strips. Straw or yarn dolls were Christmas gifts.

Other homemade presents included carved wooden toys, knitted scarves, hats, mittens and socks.

For many families, food for Christmas dinner came from the family's livestock. Some food was prepared weeks in advance, as were handmade gifts. Some early settlers ordered from Sears and Roebuck catalogs.

The Stone House Museum was restored and is maintained by the Stone House Historical Society.  Membership is open to the public.

Contact President Don Mancuso at 707-987-9297 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .