The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum announced today that it will host its annual Woodrow Wilson Birthday Open House on Monday, December 28th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  As always, President Wilson’s Birthplace, decorated for the holidays in Victorian-era style, and the Woodrow Wilson Museum will be open for visitors at no charge, and there will be refreshments and activities for children.  This year, the President and CEO, Don W. Wilson,  and the Curator, Jarod Kearney, will be on hand to show illustrations of plans for a new World War I exhibit being constructed in the Museum.  In addition, all non-sale items except books in the President’s Shop will be offered at a 10% discount.   

Don W. Wilson, President and CEO of the WWPL, said, “December 28th is one of our favorite days of the year at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum, as we celebrate the birth of President Wilson with an event open to the entire community free of charge.”  

Guests can celebrate President Wilson’s birthday all day with activities for the entire family, including making Victorian Christmas crackers.  Professional storyteller Susan Clark will enchant children with stories of Christmas past at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.  In addition to exploring the Museum and the Manse with costumed interpreters, guests of all ages can enjoy birthday cake donated by Country Confections and other refreshments, including coffee donated by City Brew Coffee.  Local musicians Jim Harrington and Buddy Thomas will play acoustic music in the Manse from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Members of the Pierce-Arrow Committee will be on hand to provide information about President Wilson’s 1919 Pierce-Arrow limousine.   

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum is open 360 days a year for guests from around the world to tour the President’s Birthplace, the historic gardens, and the Woodrow Wilson Museum, including the President’s 1919 Pierce-Arrow limousine.  The Presidential Library also sponsors educational programming for thousands of schoolchildren each year and hosts teachers’ institutes, a variety of other educational symposia, and a speakers’ series.  The Presidential Library has a large collection of Wilson and Wilson-era documents and recently established the Wilson e-Library, an on-line digital archive through which students, teachers, scholars, and the public can access these documents for free.  The Presidential Library recently purchased an historic home next to the Museum and is in the process of turning the building into the Foundation’s Library and Research Center.            

Anyone interested in more information about the Open House should contact Cynthia Polhill at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum at (540) 885-0897, ext. 100, or cpolhill@woodrowwilson.org.