PERMANENT NATIVITY DISPLAYS IN THE UNITED STATES

ARIZONA

Tucson Museum of Art.  140 N. Main Ave.  In La Casa Cordova, a 19th Century home.  A Nacimiento of 600 miniature pieces is on display every year from late November to mid-March.  Open: Tues-Sat 10-4, Sun 12-4. Closed Mons., major holidays. (phone: 520-624-2333;  fax: 520-624-7202;  website: www.tucsonmuseumofart.org)

CALIFORNIA 

Mission San Carlos Borromeo, founded 1770.  Nativity on display made up of pieces from several different Italian Baroque sets. Located in a room to the left of the altar.  Open: M-Sa 9:30-5, Su 10:30-5.  June 1-Labor Day 9:30-7:30.         (831-624-1271). 

St. Vincent de Paul Village.  3350 E. Street.  More than 600 Nativities from the collection of Fr. Joe Carroll on display.  Open: Dec, Mon-Fri, 8:30-4.  Rest of year by appointment.  (phone: 619-687-1000)

on Nob Hill.  Nativity figures carved by Antonio Sanjuan Villalba of Valencia, Spain, in 1956.  Swedish birch wood, lightly polychromed.  Located in north transept.  Open: Weekdays 7am-6pm; Sat 8-4:30, Sun, 7-7; Holidays 8-4.  (415-749-6300) www.gracecathedral.org)

CONNECTICUT 

Abbey of Regina Laudis, a community of contemplative Benedictine women.  273 Flanders Road.  Visitors welcome to visit 18th Century Neapolitan crèche, with 68 hand-carved figures, a gift from Mrs. Loretta Hines Howard, 1949.  It is thought to have belonged to Victor Amadeus II, King of Sardinia, a gift for his coronation in 1720. Crèche open daily, weather permitting, from 10-4.  Closed Jan 6 to Easter Sunday.    (www.abbeyofreginalaudis.com)

ILLINOIS 

The Polish Museum of America. 984 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
60642-4101.  Among displays of Polish history and culture is one large szopka, from the collection of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow.  Open Mon-Wed and Fri-Sun 11-4. Closed Thurs & major holidays.  (phone: 773-384-3352;     website: www.polishmuseumofamerica.org)

St. John Cantius Church.  825 N. Carpenter St.  Mid-18th Century Neapolitan presepio (Nativity and village scenes) in a 8’ x 5 ½’ setting.  Also, a 1/3 scale replica of Wit Stwosz altarpiece from the Bazylika Mariacka, Krakow, Poland, with Nativity scene on wings of the altar doors.  In general, the Church is a repository of sacred art and relics.  Office open: Mon-Fri 9-4. (phone: 312-243-7373 – website: www.cantius.org)

INDIANA 

Manchester College, 604 E. College Ave.  Funderburg Library, 2nd floor.  Display of some 100 Nativities from around the world from the collection of alumni, Joyce and Max Douglas.  During Christmas holiday additional sets on display throughout the College community.  For Library hours: 260-982-5203  or
 www.manchester.edu/OAA/Library/files/info/hours.htm

LOUISIANA

Museum, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 914 St. John’s Street, downtown.  Italian Baroque presepio from the collection of Jeffery Guéno and the late Frank Hanley.  120 figures and a multitude of accessories in a proper Neapolitan scene in a fiber-optic lighted case 7’ high, 5 ½’ deep, 11 ½’wide, plus two additional scenes in cases 4’ high, 4’ wide, 12’ deep.  Open:  M-F 9-12, 1-4.  (phone: 337-232-1322)   Special appointments:  337-643-6420.

MASSACHUSETTS

Christ the King Parish, Mashpee Commons, corner of Route 151 and Jobs Fishing Road, on Cape Cod.  Display of large-size Fontanini Nativity figures in the Chapel.  Open: Mon-Fri 9-3, Sat-Sun 9-12.    

(phone: 508-477-7700 – fax: 508-477-8158).

MICHIGAN        

Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, 25 Christmas Lane.  Nativities on display both inside and out.  Museum inside main building holds Bronner Family personal Nativity collection.  "Silent Night" Chapel replica on grounds. Open: Jan-May, M-Th  & Sa 9-5:30, F 9-9, Su 12-5:30.  Jun-Dec, M-Sa 9-9, Su 12-7.  Closed Jan 1, Easter, U.S. Thanksgiving, Christmas.  Check 989-652-9931  or  www.bronners.com to be sure.    

MINNESOTA

Westminster Presbyterian Church.  1200 Marquette Avenue.  The Martha Spencer Rogers Crèche Collection.  More than 200 Nativities from over 80 different countries.  Open Mon-Fri 9-5, Sun 9-12  (phone: 612-332-3421 – email: RSchwartz@wpc-mpls.org
Rodney Allen Schwartz, Director, Westminster Gallery and Archive)

Nativity Lutheran Church, 3312 Silver Lake Road. (suburb 5 mi. NE Minneapolis)  Collection of Nativities from around the world. Open during regular office hours and at church services. .  (phone: 612-781-2766  or  www.nativitychurch.org)

NEW JERSEY

Cistercian Monastery, 564 Walton Avenue.   Italian presepio,
20 ft. wide x 25 ft. deep.  Six-minute taped narration of the Christmas story.  Open daily 8-8 year round.  (phone:   856-235-1330)

NEW MEXICO

Museum of International Folk Art.  706 Camino Lejo, off Old Santa Fe Trail.  Nativities can be seen in the exhibition, Multiple Visions:  A Common Bond, in the Girard Wing. Open 10-5 daily.  Closed Mondays except during summer months.   (505-476-1200)

NEW YORK

Church of St. Francis of Assisi, 135 W. 31st Street (between 6th & 7th Avenues).  Perpetual Christmas Crib in lower church.  Relic from cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem set into rail in front of crib.   (212-736-8500)

NORTH CAROLINA

The Doll and Miniature Museum of High Point.  101 W. Green Drive.  The Crèche Room contains a collection of more than 35 European terra cotta and wooden Nativity figures, assembled by the late Angela Peterson over a period of 34 years.  There is also a wax Holy Family scene and a Crucifixion scene.  Open year round Tu-Sat 10-4; Sun 1-4.  Closed Mondays.   (phone: 336-885-3655 – website:
www.dollandminiaturemuseum.org)

Nativity of the Lord Jesus Catholic Church.  Corner of Killian & Myersville Roads.  Replicas of the Bethlehem Cave, Altars, Manger of the Infant Jesus + Museum adjacent to the Chapel with 500+ Nativities from around the world shown on a rotating basis.  Open weekdays 9-4; Sat, Sun before and after Masses.  (phone:  330-699-5086  -  website:  www.nativityofthelord.org)

Comboni Mission Center.  1318 Nagel Road.  Miniature Nativity scene, animated, with narrative and music, showing the entire city of Jerusalem.  Open: second Sun in Dec until end of month, 6-9 pm daily, excluding 24th & 25th;  also Mon-Fri 8-4, by appointment, for individuals and groups   (phone: 513-474-4997   - www.combonimissionaries.org)

The Marian Library, University of Dayton.  Collection of more than 2000 sets from around the world.  Multiple seasonal displays; small year-round crèche museum.  Do not miss the large Kevin Hanna “Mirror of Hope” representing major events of the Old and New Testaments.  Opening hours for art gallery and crèche museum, Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30 or by appt.  Also open by appt. is the Creche Workshop, where additional sets are on display.   (937-229-4214 or 4254  -   www.udayton.edu/mary/   or   themarypage.net)

OKLAHOMA

Eufaula First United Methodist Church.  220 S. Main St.  Collection of Eloise and Bill Smith.  Some 30 Nativities, from collection of 500+, are rotated every other month.  Open:  Min-Fri 9-2, Sun 9-1.  Phone 918-689-2109

123 Foley Avenue (next to Post Office).  20 Nativity sets from Eloise and Bill Smith collection always on view in windows.  Office open Mon-Fri 8-4, Sat 8-1. (billjrsmith@sbcglobal.net)

PENNSYLVANIA

Byers’ Choice Ltd., (makers of the Christmas caroler figures) 30 miles no. of Philadelphia, at 4355 County Line Road.  One room of Visitors’ Center houses collection of almost 200 crèches from around the world, including an 18th Century Italian presepio.  Open year round Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5. Closed major holidays.   (215-822-6700  -  www.byerschoice.com)

Slovak Folk Crafts. 1605 S. Center St. (Exit 113 on Hwy I-79)  A hand-carved basswood Nativity is at the center of a 17’ x 6’ x 8’ wooden display with 82 moving figures depicting folk life as it  existed in Slovakia for centuries.  Carved by Vladimir Tomko and Miloš Karabin under the design and supervision of Master Carver Jozef Pekara.  Modeled after a larger mechanical Nativity in Rajecká Lesná, Slovakia, built by Master Pekara.  This is the only known mechanical Nativity in the United States.   Open Mon-Sat 9-5. (phone:1-866-756-8257  -  www.slovakfolkcrafts.com)
 

National Christmas Center, 3427 Lincoln Highway.  Over 300 Nativity sets on display, including the world-wide collection of Jay Bullock, recently donated – walk-through life-size re-creation of Mary and Joseph’s journey – narrated Pennsylvania Moravian Putz – magnificent life-size, hand-carved 20-pc. Italian Nativity (late 1800s). Hours vary so check before going.  Group tours year round by appt. (717-442-7950 – www.nationalchristmascenter.com )

St. Mary’s at the Cathedral, Chapel of St. Michael and All Angels, 630 E. Cathedral Road, at Ridge Avenue.  Chinese crèche brought from China in 1943 by missionary, Deacon Katherine Putnam, who served there for 33 years.  Located in side chapel year round; moved into church during Christmas season.    (215-482-6300)

TENNESSEE

The Upper Room Chapel and Christian Art Museum, 1908 Grant Ave.  “Night of the Child” Nativity and “Madonna and Child Gallery,” with 100+ Nativity scenes, on display Nov-Jan;   20-30 scenes on display remainder of year.  Open Mon-Fri, 8-4:30; closed Sat, Sun, holidays.

TEXAS

Whitehead Memorial Museum, 1308 S. Main Street.  Cadena Nativity.
Display is 32’long, 10’ high, 20’ deep and has 1287 items collected from California and Mexico over many years by Beatriz Rodriguez Cadena.  Open: Tu-Sat, 9-4:30; Sun, 1-5; closed Monday.  (phone: 830-774-7568     website: www.whiteheadmuseum.org)

“Bethlehem in Denton County”.  990 Milam Road East (5 mi. north of Denton on I-35N, Exit 473)  Collection of Judy Klein.  2850 Nativities.  Viewings by appointment, evenings and week-ends only.  Groups of 10 persons maximum.  (phone: 940-231-4520  - 
jkmk@grandecom.net -  www.bethlehemindentonco.com)

WASHINGTON DC

Mount St. Sepulchre, a Franciscan Monastery.  Replica of the Holy Manger. 1400 Quincy Street NE. Tours offered daily on the hour. Mon-Sat 10-11, 1-3.  Sun 1-3.  (phone: 202-526-6800  -  website:
www.myfranciscan.com)

WISCONSIN

Green Lake Conference Center, in the Roger Williams Inn.  W2511 State Road 23 – west of Fond du Lac.  Some 250 Nativities from the collection of Merrill and Elaine Luman on display.  Viewing hours vary, especially during the winter months when the display may be closed, so, be sure to check before visiting.   (920-294-3323)

Holy Cross Lutheran Church, W156-N8131 Pilgrim Road.  “The Joy to the World Nativity Collection”.  Over 250 Nativities from more than 40 countries, collected by Bill and Susanne Gay.  Open Mon-Fri 1-3, Sun 9-1.   (phone: 262-251-2740)

Algoma Boulevard United Methodist Church, 1174 Algoma Blvd., corner of New York. On lower level, collection of more than 1000 Nativities from around the world displayed artistically.  Open year round during regular church hours; Sundays 8-12; some Wednesdays. For daily hours, and to be sure church is open, call 920-231-2800. Tours by appointment.  (www.abumc.org)