Canton Historical Museum to showcase 17th annual Gallery of Trees

By John Fitts

Staff Writer

CANTON – Sometimes fundraisers turn into larger traditions. That is certainly the case with the Gallery of Trees, which is happening at the Canton Historical Museum for the 17th year in 2024.

“It started as a fundraiser for our building fund,” said Kathy Taylor, president of the Canton Historical Society, Inc. “Now we use the money for our building and operating fund, but it’s also become a tradition. People from all over the state bring their families to see the trees and some of them try to win one.”

Specifically, local businesses, non-profits and individuals decorate and donate artificial trees for display at the museum. Creativity is in high gear and participants often used hand-crafted or upcycled materials and decorate with themes that include birds, rubber ducklings, home-made crafts, cookies, chocolates, winter wonderlands, authors, owls, sweaters, the coast, traditional winter holiday themes and more. Trees come in all sizes and sometimes people mix it up with wreaths, painted sleds, or tabletop decorations. In all, there are generally more than 100 trees.

“People are very generous, and it seems like every tree is different,” Taylor said. “It’s amazing.”

Visitors then buy tickets – generally $1 for one and 25 for $20 – and enter to win the tree(s) of their liking. It’s a great way to support the Canton Historical Museum and last year raised $21,000.

It all takes place at the Canton Historical Museum, 11 Front St., Collinsville, from Nov. 17 to Dec. 8 with a kick-off gala the evening of Nov. 16, which starts at 6:30 p.m. The gala is $25 and includes food, drink and the chance to socialize and get a first look at the transformed museum. Tree donors get a free ticket.

“There are people who come back every year and it attracts a lot of new people too,” said Taylor, who added that the event really piques a lot of interest in the museum as well.

The three-level 1865 building, once used by The Collins Company, includes many gems from the company’s history, the town of Canton as a whole, as well as Victorian and Civil War era items, Native American tools, recreation of a general store and bridal salon, a train diorama, farm tools, and so much more.

Beginning Nov. 17 and running to Dec. 8, the museum is open extra hours, with free admission, for Gallery of Trees viewing and ticket purchases.

Those hours form Nov. 17 to Dec. 8 are:

• Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 4 p.m.

• Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. and

• Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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It’s also not too late to enter and trees must be at the museum by Nov. 15. Email galleryoftrees@cantonmuseum.org to get details if interested.

Those looking for a bit of inspiration can check out last year’s trees at https://cameo.smugmug.com/Gallery-of-Trees-2023/

The photographer who took those photos, Jeffrey B. Schlichter, Owner of that Cameo Photo Video will be doing it once again so keep an eye out for the link at https://cameo.smugmug.com/

The Gallery of Trees dates are also an especially good time to visit as the Historical Society plans to close the museum during January and February – with the exception of tours by special request – to clean, organize and work on new exhibits.

See more about the museum at www.cantonmuseum.org or at https://www.facebook.com/CantonHistoricalMuseum/

To request a January or February group tour, email information@cantonmuseum.org 

Below are a few examples of trees from previous years.