Shortly before Christmas, Sigrid and I visited the Vaile Mansion in Independence, MO. The house, a Second Empire style of architecture, has been restored and is open to the public for tours. The home was built about 1880 and was owned by Harvey Vaile, a Kansas City Star mail route operator.
Every year, the mansion is turned over to interior designers to decorate for Christmas. I don't remember if it is a competition or just for fun, but the home is decorated out the wazoo. It has more Christmas trees inside than a Boy Scout tree lot has outside. If you don't get in the Christmas spirit after visiting this house, then you are beyond help. It is a beautiful home.
The house is a bit of a nightmare to photograph due to very dim lighting only made worse by the Christmas lighting. The chandeliers and lamps all seem to have been placed to make photos difficult. Add people touring the home that I didn't want to capture in the photos and it makes for a challenging morning.
This is the entrance.
Every room has a fireplace that was decorated.
Morning John and Sigrid: Would you mind if I posted a link to this post on our facebook page for Independence Tourism? This is the last week for our homes tours and would love to share your observations and photos with the social media world. Janeen Aggen, Media contact, Independence, MO Tourism
ReplyDeleteForgot to ask - if it is all right to post this, can you please reply with a direct message to janeena@sbcglobal.net?
ReplyDeleteWe would be pleased to help with Independence tourism. Feel free to link to our blog. Glad you enjoyed the post. We certainly enjoyed the house.
ReplyDeletebeautiful pictures! my aunt volunteers there and I am thinking THIS is the Christmas I will make the two hour drive and finally see the mansion! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks. It is a beautiful house and I think you will find that the trip is worthwhile. You might want to visit the Bingham Waggoner home while here to make the trip even more enjoyable. Heck, take in the Country Club Plaza lights as well.
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