Transylvania Heritage Museum opens its door for the annual aluminium Christmas tree exhibition

Transylvania Heritage Museum in the United States is opening its door to the annual aluminium Christmas tree exhibition, which will show visitors trees from the 1950s. The museum is hosting a third showing of the internationally renowned Aluminium Tree & Aesthetically Challenged Seasonal Ornament Museum and Research Center (also known as ATOM).

"People come here from all over and tell us they save up to come see the aluminum trees. It's phenomenal," said Museum director Rebecca Suddeth.

There will be more than 20 aluminium Christmas trees on display, along with a unique celebration of the Shiny Brite Christmas ornament company, the 1971 Walt Disney World grand opening, and the excellent music of the era as part of the exhibition theme "Disco, Disney and Dazzling Shiny Brites."

"The biggest thing about this exhibit is it induces nostalgia. There are different things that do it for different people. The disco stuff has never done that for me, but then I was 4 when that was going on. It's hard for me to say what my favorite on display this year is. I like the Shiny Brites, but I think the Disney display might evoke more childhood memories for others," added Rebecca Suddeth.

In the 1990s, Brevard started to gain a reputation for its aluminium Christmas trees when local interior designer Steven Jackson began sharing his modest collection of holiday decorations with friends. As more items were donated, he could display his entire collection at various locations throughout downtown.

The trees were initially shown off at the Transylvania Heritage Museum on Jordan Street in 2009. After visiting a few other sites, Jackson's collection found a permanent holiday home at the museum on West Main Street in 2013, where it has been on display ever since.