LOGAN, Iowa — As soon as you set foot inside the door at the Museum of Religious Arts near Logan, you are transported into the holiday season.
More than 400 nativities, 60 decorated trees and 75 St. Nicholas figurines await.
This is the fourth year the museum has hosted the nativities and the third for the decorated trees.
“Our visitor numbers have broken records each year since we started this event,” said museum director Rhonda McHugh.
Visitors come from all over, she said.
“Our parking lot has many cars from Nebraska, Des Moines, Sioux City and more, and this year has brought more local folks out already,” McHugh said.
The nativity display began with a collection donated by Bill and Clara Johannes of Council Bluffs.
The family that donated the Fontanini 50-inch set on display wishes to remain anonymous. This nativity set is manufactured in Italy and considered collectible because of the high attention to detail. Over four generations have worked making these intricate figures.
Other nativities are from Pamela Morrison of Glenwood and several other collectors. There is also a Pipka nativity set on display. It includes an elephant, Arabian horse and camel depicting the three different countries the kings were from, said McHugh. Pipka Ulvilden, who was born in Germany and raised in America, crafts Pipka sets. She has been designing pieces for more than 20 years.
Another display, donated by the Helen Leonard family, was made in 1961 and had been on display at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Kansas City, Mo.
Joining the wide variety of nativities on display are 60 theme-decorated trees. The diverse themes include “My daughter’s wedding,” “Duck the Hall,” “Red Hat Trees,” “Breast Cancer Survivor Tree,” and “Cookie Time.”
“The diversity of it is amazing,” McHugh said.
The ideas for the trees came from Cheri Mensching, who is chairwoman of the project. Museum visitors can vote for their favorite tree by putting a donation into the box by each one. The tree that garners the most money wins. The funds will be split between the tree decorator and the museum, McHugh said.
The trees are available on a first-come, first served basis, so McHugh urges that those wanting to decorate a tree for next year, sign up now.
The trees, nativities and St. Nicholas’ statues will be on display until Jan. 17.
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