Vaile Mansion at Christmas
The Vaile Mansion 1500 North Liberty St. Independence, MO 64050 816.325.7430 www.VaileMansion.org
Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays…unless you live in Kansas City, in which case there are several places you should consider visiting around Christmastime! One such place is the lavish Vaile Mansion, which dons a resplendent array of festive décor in honor of its Fashionable Victorian Christmas celebration, taking place from late November to the end of December.
Hours of Operation: Mon.-Sat., 10:00-4:00; Sun., 1:00-4:00 Admission: $6/Adults. $5/Seniors and Groups, $3/Children and Students
Hot Tips
- Consider purchasing a Spirit of Christmas Pass through the City of Independence. For $15, you can visit the Vaile Mansion, the 1859 Jail & Marshall’s Home and the Bingham-Waggoner Estate. Tickets can be used on different days throughout the month of December.
- Not wheelchair or stroller accessible
- Cameras are allowed, video cameras are not.
- All ages are welcome, but the mansion is recommended for ages 6 & up.
Before You Go
From A&E to HGTV to National Geographic, the Vaile Mansion has received national attention and press with good reason. For more than 131 years, this Independence 3-story has been turning heads due to its intricate Second Empire Victorian architecture and ostentatious interiors. Built by Colonel and Mrs. Harvey Vaile, this palatial abode boasts 31 rooms, nine marble fireplaces, five intricately painted watercolor ceiling murals and a 46,000-gallon wine cellar. Prior to visiting, contrast the Vaile home specs with your own. How many rooms does your home include? How many fireplaces? When was your home built?
While You’re There
See why USA Today calls Vaile the “Christmas castle.” Gold-gilded ornaments and custom touches fill rooms with a festive flair. Decorations change with each passing Christmas season, but one décor element always remains the same: a 6-foot-tall chandelier tree hangs upside down within the home to light your way! The main level offers the home’s primary entertaining quarters, from the deep red Cardinal room to the music room. Rich mahogany banister rails lead you to the second story where you can view the home’s private quarters and the Vaile Victorian Gift Shop (purchase a memento to remember your visit!).
After You’ve Gone
While you’re in Independence, consider taking some time to enjoy more of the city’s rich history. Independence Square offers a variety of unique shops and restaurants. Take a mule-driven sleigh ride around the square while your wagon master shares holiday stories about the buildings you pass. Sip some hot chocolate and view the mayor’s Christmas tree lighting event or take some time to see other city sites decorated for the Christmas season, including the Chicago-Alton Depot, the National Frontier Trails Museum or the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site.
Lauren Greenlee loves Christmas in Kansas City and is proud to call it home during the holidays (and every other time of the year, for that matter!). She writes from her home in Olathe.
