at the Historical Society of Delaware's
Old Town Hall

NOTE: This exhibit is CLOSED.  For reference only.

For the holidays, Old Town Hall is alive with train whistles, chugging model passenger trains, and steam freight locomotives as the Historical Society of Delaware presents A Holiday Wonderland of Trains and Toys. Encircling a tall Christmas tree, piled with wrapped packages, in the center of Old Town Hall is a big G-gauge neo-Victorian model, The North Star Express.  This train is reminiscent of the train in Chris Van Allsburg's classic children's book, The Polar Express.  On Saturdays in December, children are invited to come and see the train and then join us for a reading of The Polar Express.

In addition to the North Star Express, A Holiday Wonderland features two other expansive train displays.  First comes a 25' by 8' winter wonderland.  Two loops of HO-gauge trains are perpetually running around snow-capped mountains, through deep mountain passes, and down into the snowy valleys.  Additional colorful steam engines will fill the rail yard.  In the N-gauge layout, three loops of diesel and steam trains will travel through mountains and past both farms and villages.

Also on display are colorful engines and cars spanning the century from the 1860s to the 1960s.  The earliest engine is a Victorian wind-up tin model painted in black, red, yellow, and green.  Other pieces range from simple wooden pull trains to modern brass models, the most accurate engines and cars ever made.  There is also a car from the first American Flyer set, a sleek 1950s Aero train in its original box, and the usual American Flyer circus cars with giraffes, elephants and clowns.

In addition to trains, A Holiday in Wonderland also includes some all-time favorite Baby-Boomer toys, starting with Barbie dolls with their original clothes and Mr. Potato Head.  If you remember cowboy toys from Hopalong Cassidy to Roy Rogers, Davy Crockett's coon-tailed cap, pogo sticks, hula hoops, Cooties, Lincoln logs, Pez dispensers, and ratfink rings, then this Baby Boomer Christmas is for  you.

The exhibit's youngest visitors will discover that they can play as well as look.  One section of Old Town Hall will be set aside with a modern train set and other toys for hands-on playtime.

Old Town Hall - 500 Block Market Street - Wilmington
November 23, 2001-January 5, 2002
Monday-Friday Noon to 4:00, Saturdays 10:00 to 4:00
A modest fee is collected next door at the Delaware History Museum
for entrance into Old Town Hall.
Saturdays in December:
Readings of The Polar Express 11 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
For more information, please call
during above museum hours at (302) 656-0637.