‘Twas the Night: Reading & Book Signing in Glenview

Take a seat in the Great Hall of Glenview, the Museum’s 1877 Gilded Age historic home lavishly decorated for the holiday season, and hear historian and author Pamela McColl read the classic poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” McColl traces the evolution of the holiday season and explores the origins of Clement Clarke Moore’s poem, delving into two centuries of winter traditions.

Learn about the historical and literary figures, along with the artists and illustrators, who shaped Moore’s iconic depiction of jolly old St. Nick. Using familiar works of art inspired by the poem, vintage illustrations, and archival material, McColl sheds light on the poem’s own story and the life and times of “The Poet of Christmas Eve.” McColl is on a multi-state tour celebrating the poem’s 200th year in print, and Moore (1779–1863) will be inducted in the New York State Library Hall of Fame this December. The reading will be followed by a book signing in Glenview’s Billiard Room.