Columbia’s Maplewood House Holiday Open House Set Nov. 8

The Historic Maplewood House in Columbia hosts a free, family-friendly holiday open house called Merry Maplewood on Sunday, November 8. It runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., organized by the Boone County History & Culture Center with EverTrue Lenoir Woods sponsoring; proceeds from one add-on activity go to the Boone County Historical Society.

What’s Happening at the House?

Santa Claus will be on hand, along with local vendors selling holiday gifts, free family crafts and ornament-making, and tours of the historic house itself. Outside, kids can visit a Highland cow petting zoo, and the Nacho Average Food Truck and Anderson’s Coffee Truck will be parked on site for anyone who wants lunch or a warm drink.

What If I Want a Family Photo?

The History & Culture Center is also offering 10-minute holiday photo sessions on the Maplewood House porch for $100, with limited slots available. Proceeds from those sessions support the Boone County Historical Society, which runs the center’s museum, archives and historic buildings.

It’s the kind of event the Historical Society leans on to keep its larger preservation work going — the same organization that recently moved a 145-year-old country church from Sturgeon into its Boone History Village, and that each spring inducts a new class into its History Makers Hall of Fame.

Where and How Do I Go?

Historic Maplewood House sits on the grounds of the Boone County History & Culture Center, 3801 Ponderosa St. in Columbia. The event is free to attend; only the porch photo sessions carry a fee. Questions can go to the center at 573-443-8936 or info@boonehistory.org.