CHADDS FORD, PA - This holiday season, the Brandywine River Museum continues a tradition as A Brandywine Christmas returns on November 24 with delightful sights and sounds of the holidays.

Family favorites of the annual holiday display include the museum's extensive model train scene and "critter" ornaments made by the museum's volunteers. This year, A Brandywine Christmas is complemented by two special exhibitions, N.C. Wyeth's Family Christmas and The Dolls on Christmas Day, Collection of Ann Wyeth McCoy.

N.C. Wyeth's Family Christmas focuses on the family's famous holiday celebrations between 1908 and the mid-1930s. The exhibition includes N.C. Wyeth's letters, family photographs and oral history as documentation. Some of the objects displayed were given as gifts to one another by family members, such as the toy barn N.C. Wyeth made from wooden packing crates for his daughter Carolyn in 1918. Also included are actual family furnishings that recreate the Wyeth living room, the center of the family's seasonal festivities, with children's toys around the Christmas tree and the mantle decorated in its traditional fashion.

The Dolls on Christmas Day, Collection of Ann Wyeth McCoy visits the Brandywine River Museum every other year and features Mrs. McCoy's well-known collection of small dolls in traditional scenes outdoors in a winter landscape. The extensive exhibition includes 40 rare German and French dolls. New this year is an Emile Juneau doll from France. Juneau dolls are distinguished by their realistic eyes. Each doll is dressed in antique doll clothing, and some wear costumes designed and made by Mrs. McCoy.

As in years past, the museum's O-gauge model railroad will feature non-stop action on over 2,000 feet of track. Five moving trains operate at any time, including a nearly endless 60-car freight train winding past a village, stone quarry, oil refinery, mountains, Herr's food plant, running waterfall and animated skating scene. A miniature Santa and his sleigh fly over the railroad.

The legendary critter ornaments return to decorate holiday trees and diorama settings throughout the museum. These cleverly designed ornaments have adorned the White House Christmas tree and the Smithsonian Institution.

New this year is a "Teddy Bear Tree" filled with polar bears, baby bears, black bears and dancing bears. These imaginative critters are for sale in the Museum Shop. Proceeds from the sale of critters, which are made by museum volunteers from entirely natural materials, are used to purchase art for the museum's collection.

Continuing through January 7, 2001 A Brandywine Christmas is made possible through the generous support of CIGNA, the Frelinghuysen Foundation, Herr Foods, Inc., and Sunoco, Inc. The Brandywine River Museum is located on US Route 1 in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. The museum is open daily, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except

Christmas Day. Admission is $5 for adults; $2.50 for seniors and students; free for children under 6 and members. For more information, call (610) 388-2700.

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