Originally a farmhouse built around 1840, the Osborne Homestead Museum is now one of fifteen distinctive historic sites in Connecticut.  Frances Eliza Osborne (1876-1956) was the last of the Osborne family children and deeded the 350-acre property to Connecticut to preserve it as a state park for future generations.

Every December for more than 30 years, local clubs have prepared lavish holiday decorations following an annually chosen theme.  The theme for the 2025 Holiday Season is “A Derby Holiday.”  The Olde Ripton Garden Club decorated the Dining Room with the topic of the “Sterling Opera House and Women’s Club Guests.”

The holiday tours will run from November 28 through December 20, 2025. Tours will be offered Thursdays through Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Fridays, December 5, 12, and 19, the museum will present “Twilight Tours” to display the amber glow of the decorations from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Members of the Osborne decorating committee:  Marilyn Dennis, Cheryl Dixon, Lee Stolzman, Committee Chair Linda Hooper, Jean Hirsch, Lori Kniffin, Lori Hansen and Diana Wehger.

On Wednesday, December 3rd, the Homestead Museum thanked area clubs with a “Volunteer Appreciation Tea.”

The Dinning Room decorated as the Sterling Opera House.