Christmas at Victoria Mansion in Portland, Maine
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Christmas at Victoria Mansion is a beloved holiday tradition in Portland, Maine where the historic 19th-century home is lavishly decorated by local designers. Each room showcases unique festive themes that highlight the mansion’s stunning architecture and period furnishings. Visitors can experience a magical blend of history and holiday spirit, making it a highlight of the season.
History of the House
Victoria Mansion, also known as the Morse-Libby House, was built between 1858 and 1860 as a summer home for Portland native and luxury hotelier Ruggles Sylvester Morse. The home was designed by architect Henry Austin of New Haven, Connecticut. It is one of the finest examples of Italianate-style architecture in the United States. This house also has other Connecticut ties. The brownstone is from Portland, Connecticut.
The interiors of the house were done by Gustave Herter, a German-born cabinetmaker. The surfaces of the house were painted by Giuseppe Guidicini, an Italian-born scenic and opera house decorative painter. The details of this house are truly remarkable.
About The Event
The event runs from November 28, 2025 to January 4, 2026. The mansion is beautifully decorated for the event with each room decorated for different themes. When I went, I was super surprised by the themes they chose and how unique they each were! The holiday designers go above and beyond to dress this house up for the holiday season!
You can purchase tickets at the door, but I’d recommend getting your tickets online to ensure you get the time you’d like. If you try buying a ticket at the door, you might have to buy one for later in the day. Thankfully there’s plenty to do in Portland if you do need to wait for a later time.
The tours are self-guided, but there will be docents around the house to answer any questions that you might have. The docents are very friendly and super knowledgeable about the house, from the history to the architecture. I spent a lot of time talking with one docent about the house and I learned so much! I must have talked to her for at least 30 minutes.
Getting There
The mansion is located in Portland on Danforth Street. From I-295, you’ll take Exit 6A. There is no parking lot for the museum itself. When I went, I was easily able to find free street parking on the same block as the house. But, I did book for early in the day. If you’re not comfortable with street parking or parallel parking, there are some paid parking options available.
When you get to the mansion, you’ll go into the gift shop. In the gift shop, you’ll check in.
Enjoying Christmas At Victoria Mansion
I visited this house for the holidays in December of 2024. I stopped on my way up to Boothbay, Maine for Gardens Aglow at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. I wanted to break up the drive with something festive and I discovered that Victoria Mansion has a holiday event. I’d had this mansion pinned on my Google Maps for a while and I decided to stop since I’d be driving through Portland.
I absolutely loved my visit to this house. Not only is the house itself gorgeous, but the decorations were so thoughtful and well-done! I loved that it was self-guided so I could take my time as I made my way through the house. This also made it so much easier to take photos of the decorations because we weren’t in a tour group that was crammed into a room together.
I tend to prefer guided tours because I like having someone tell me about the places I’m visiting. I never read any of the signs because I feel like I’m somehow wasting precious time during my visit…I blame the ADHD. But, this event had docents everywhere and they were more than happy to tell me cool things as I made my way through the house! I was able to have a laid-back experience while also talking to docents to learn the information I craved.
Below are the photos from my holiday visit to this gorgeous historic mansion.
Is This Event Worth Going To?
Yes! I loved my visit to the Victoria Mansion for the holidays. The house on its own was stunning, but the holiday decorators went above and beyond with fun and whimsical decorations throughout the house!
I loved this mansion so much that I’ve been really wanting to go again during the regular season to see the rooms without all of the decor. The architecture and details throughout the house are truly amazing. It is such a beautifully preserved piece of history.
Other Things To Do In The Area
While I was in the area, I also visited some of my favorite lighthouses in the Portland area. No trip to Portland is complete without a visit to Portland Head Light, which is the most photographed lighthouse in the U.S. Ironically, this lighthouse isn’t in Portland. It’s actually in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
In South Portland, be sure to check out Bug Light and Spring Point Ledge Light. Both of these lighthouses had cute little wreaths on them for the holiday season.
If you have more time, there are plenty of other lighthouses to check out in Maine along the coast! However, if you’re looking to stay in the Portland area, you can check out some of the breweries in Portland or grab a bite to eat in the city.
Thank you for sharing your experience — I loved how you noted the stunning architecture of the Victoria Mansion and the way local designers used period furnishings for unique holiday themes. It’s clear this is more than just decoration — it’s a thoughtful blend of history and festive spirit
It definitely is!!
Ekk! I thought the mansion was beautiful when I toured it two summers ago..but the holiday decorations put it over the top! so very cool! It’s def a must see anytime of year if you’re in Portland.
I need to plan another trip to see it without all of the holiday decorations! I’ve been to a lot of different historic sites at this point and Victoria Mansion is high on my list of favorites.