BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, IL – A rare treat is being offered the evening of Saturday, December 17 as three of Bloomington-Normal’s most significant, historic mansions will feature evening holiday tours and free shuttle transportation for one low price.  One additional mansion has been added to this year’s tour, expanding on last year’s tour of two lavish homes.

 

            The David Davis Mansion State Historic Site at 1000 E. Monroe, Bloomington; the Broadview Mansion at 1301 S. Fell Avenue, Normal; and new to the tour this year, the Vrooman Mansion at 701 E. Taylor, Bloomington, will be festooned with vintage Christmas decorations and open for special evening tours from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 17.  The David Davis Mansion will also treat visitors to other holiday entertainments, such as costumed guides, seasonal music and refreshments. Visitors should park at the Davis Mansion, where a continuous shuttle service will transport them to the Vrooman and Broadview Mansions.

 

            Tickets for the tours are $8 per person and may be purchased at Casey’s, The Garlic Press, Schnucks Supermarket, Engraving Express, and the David Davis Mansion.

 

            The Holiday Mansions Tour is a fundraising event benefiting the Immanuel Bible Foundation and the David Davis Mansion Foundation.  The David Davis Mansion Foundation uses its portion of the funds to purchase artifacts for its annual Christmas exhibit and to provide special school and adult tours in December.  The Immanuel Bible Foundation uses its funds to provide special programs for the community.      

 

            The Victorian-style David Davis Mansion, known by the family as Clover Lawn, was built in 1872 for U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Davis and his wife, Sarah.

During the December 17 tour, the mansion will feature authentic Christmas foods, Victorian parlor games, and lavish, vintage decorations from the 19^th century.  The Davis Mansion is normally open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for free public tours.  It is administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

 

            The Edwardian-style Broadview Mansion was built in 1906 for Bird and Margaret Van Leer, who operated a successful Bloomington business for many years.  After the death of her husband, Mrs. Van Leer founded the Immanuel Bible Foundation and used her home as its headquarters.  The Foundation is still located in the mansion.  The

December 17 tour will offer visitors a chance to tour Broadview Mansion, which is not normally open for public tours.  For more information about Broadview Mansion, visit  www.ibfoundation.org.

 

            Built in 1869, the Vrooman Mansion was formerly the home of Julia Scott Vrooman, whose family entertained dignitaries such as Adlai E. Stevenson and Eleanor Roosevelt.  A visit to the Vrooman Mansion allows visitors to relive the history of nineteenth-century Bloomington, as they imagine themselves being entertained in this elegant home by the Scott and Vrooman families.

 

            For more information on the December 17 tours, call the David Davis Mansion at (309) 828-1084 or the Immanuel Bible Foundation at (309) 452-6710.