Step Back in Time at Binghamton’s Candlelight Christmas Tours Inside the Historic Phelps Mansion

There’s something magical about the soft glow of candlelight on old wood and velvet drapes, especially when it’s paired with the scent of pine and the hush of holiday wonder. This season, the Phelps Mansion Museum at 191 Court Street in Binghamton invites you to experience that magic firsthand with its Candlelight Christmas Tours, where history and holiday spirit come together for an evening that feels straight out of another time.

A Peek Into 19th-Century Christmas Traditions

Each tour takes you beyond twinkling lights and garland to uncover what Christmas looked like in the late 1800s. Guides share stories of how families celebrated before there were electric lights, mass-produced ornaments, or even Santa as we know him. You’ll learn the roots of traditions that have lasted generations, and maybe pick up a few charming customs to bring into your own home this year.

Intimate Tours With Old Fashioned Charm

To keep things cozy and personal, tours are limited to just 14 guests. They’re offered every Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., though there will be no tours on Friday, December 5 due to the city’s First Friday event.

READ MORE: Christmas Magic Returns to Simmons Acres Farm

A Mansion With a Rich Local Legacy

The Phelps Mansion isn’t just beautiful, it’s a piece of Binghamton’s story. Built in 1870 for Sherman D. Phelps, a successful businessman, banker, and former mayor, the three-story brick and stone home was designed by Isaac G. Perry, who later became the chief architect of the New York State Capitol in Albany. Every corner of the mansion whispers a bit of history, from its grand staircase to the intricate details in its woodwork.

From Clubhouse to Community Treasure

In 1905, the mansion found a new purpose when it was purchased by the Monday Afternoon Club, a women’s civic organization that added a ballroom to the back of the home. For decades, the club gathered there to host events, support the arts, and strengthen the community. Ownership eventually transferred to the Phelps Mansion Foundation in 1986, and by 2005, the site was officially chartered as a museum by the New York State Board of Regents.

A Place Where History Still Lives

Though the Monday Afternoon Club disbanded in 2006, its spirit of connection and community lives on through the museum’s programs and tours. Today, the Phelps Mansion Museum continues to open its doors to locals and visitors alike, sharing not only the story of the Phelps family but also the legacy of the women who preserved this historic home.

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A Holiday Experience You’ll Remember

If you’re searching for a way to slow down this holiday season, to bask in soft candlelight and the stories of Binghamton’s past, this is it. The Candlelight Christmas Tours at the Phelps Mansion Museum offer a rare kind of warmth, the kind that comes from stepping back in time and remembering what the holidays are truly about: family, history, and the beauty of simple togetherness.