Christmas at Lilly House

Wartime shortages and Depression-era budgets affected Christmas celebrations during the 1930s and 1940s. But more than ever, people were embracing the holidays and wanting to reconnect with festive traditions. During Christmas at Lilly House, guests can see how holidays of that time were celebrated with renewed hope and thankfulness. The free event showcases Lilly House decorated with trees, wreaths and greenery, along with refreshing touches of new fashions. A National Historic Landmark, Lilly House and Gardens is a 26-acre historic estate and house museum located on the Indianapolis Museum of Art campus. Lilly House is a 22-room mansion once the home of J.K. Lilly Jr., the late Indianapolis businessman, collector and philanthropist. Fifteen minutes north of Monument Circle, the Indianapolis Museum of Art is one of the nation's largest and oldest general art museums. Founded in 1883, the museum has more than 54,000 works spanning 5,000 years.