Students looking for a study break may want to make the trip to Iowa State’s Farm House Museum to view the Victorian holiday decor.

Mary Atherly, museum curator, said the museum hopes to show how the house could have been decorated at the turn of the century.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Queen Victoria influenced an era with lavish decorations, Atherly said. Immigrants from England and Germany brought their traditions with them to the United States.

The theme this year is “Trees and Trimmings.”

Atherly said the museum is trying to recreate the atmosphere of the turn of the century when the second ISU agriculture dean, Charles Curtiss, lived in the house with his family.

She said the Curtiss family and other faculty members entertained often and invited students to their homes for holiday events. Many students could not make the often long trip home over the break.

“The house is gracious like what the Curtisses would have had,” Atherly said. “I encourage students to drop by.”

Admission to the museum is free of charge.

It is supported by the state of Iowa, Friends of the University Museum and donations from visitors.

The Farm House is open from noon until 4 p.m. on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the holiday season through Dec. 21. Atherly said she anticipates about 1,500 will come through the museum this holiday season.

On Sundays there are activities for children, such as making decorations, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The ISU Men’s Glee Club will also perform this Sunday at the museum.

“People are welcome to come and walk through to enjoy the house,”Atherly said.

The Farm House Holiday Shop, located in the kitchen of the house, offers a variety of homemade gifts, said Kay Beckett, shop manager.

Members from the Friends of the Farm House Museum made the gifts working together during seven workshops last spring and fall.

The shop offers many holiday tree ornaments which cost about $12 or less.