News and Events

2025 Christmas Exhibit: “1890 vs. 1990—A Century of Celebration”

Sep 06, 2025

Step into two very different Decembers as the North Wood County Historical Society presents its 2025 holiday theme: “Christmas 1890 vs.1990.” This year’s exhibit will transform the rooms of the Upham Mansion

into a time-traveling celebration, contrasting the elegance of a Victorian Christmas with the colorful charm of the late 20th century.

Visitors will experience the candlelit parlor of 1890, adorned with handmade ornaments, evergreen garlands, and modest gifts nestled beneath a tabletop tree. Then passing through the archway, the 1990s come alive with electric lights, pop culture décor, and the unmistakable nostalgia of the library filled with the decade’s most popular toys—Beanie Babies, Tamagotchis, Furby, Pokémon cards, Pogs, Polly Pocket, Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Nintendo Game Boys—all iconic treasures from 1990 to 1999..

To bring the 1990s side of the exhibit to life, we invite the community to loan items from their personal collections. We’re seeking toys, decorations, and memorabilia from the era—especially beloved icons like Inspector Gadget, Polly Pocket, Game Boys, and holiday-themed VHS tapes. Items will be safely displayed and returned after the exhibit closes.

If you have something to share, please contact the Historical Society at 715-387-3322 or by email NWCHS@uphammansion.com by November 15. Let’s make this a truly cross-generational celebration of memory, tradition, and holiday joy.

← Return