Visit Legendary Santa At His New Permanent Home At The Children’s Museum Of Richmond!

On November 28, 2008, the day after Thanksgiving, Legendary Santa will come down the chimney at the Children’s Museum of Richmond, his seasonal headquarters since 2005. His ceremonial descent will mark his 72nd year as a beloved holiday icon for Richmond area families.

It all began seven decades ago….

....in 1936 when the real Santa Claus first visited the landmark Miller & Rhoads department store in downtown Richmond, thrilling scores of youngsters and launching a tradition that would become as rock solid as the city’s famed monuments. He selected the location as his seasonal headquarters and set up shop. No Christmas was complete until your mother, in her hat and gloves, took you, dressed in your holiday best, to see Santa at Miller & Rhoads.

It was a magical experience.

There would be the red-cheeked, genial Santa with his flowing white beard sitting on his grand throne, accompanied by the beautiful Snow Queen. Children could have Tea with Santa, complete with reindeer cookies, and even shop at their own pint-sized Fawn Shop. Generation after generation perpetuated the highly anticipated holiday ritual. Legions of true believers made the pilgrimage to Richmond, many coming from beyond city and state boundaries. So revered was the tradition that Santa became known as the Miller & Rhoads Legendary Santa…..

On the day after Thanksgiving 2005…

...Legendary Santa moved one last time to his new seasonal home at the Children’s Museum of Richmond. It’s a convenient mid-town location with free parking and the added benefit of a children’s Museum. At the Children’s Museum, Legendary Santa acquired an enthusiastic new helper in addition to the Snow Queen and Elf – a big cuddly red dinosaur named Seymour, the museum’s mascot. Seymour, wearing a Santa hat and grooving to the sounds of the season, entertains the children waiting in line to see Legendary Santa.

And that’s not all!

To make waiting lines more enjoyable, CMoR offers a paging system available for families and groups accompanied by at least two adults so that children may enjoy the museum’s fun, hands-on exhibits and activities (museum admission required!). Children entering the museum must be accompanied by at least one adult, and at least one adult must remain in line to hold a place.

In 2007, waiting in line became even more magical as the museum featured its newly acquired vintage-looking animatronic window displays from Bloomingdale’s flagship store on Lexington Avenue in New York City!

More than 28,000 people visited Legendary Santa at the Children’s Museum during the 2007 holiday season! This year, you can be a part of the magic too!