The Only Santa Museum in the South!
The Santa Claus Museum was originally created in memory of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Hopkins, an avid collector of Santas of every shape and size. The building was donated by Mrs. Laura Ann Rau, a founding member of the Columbus Historical Preservation Trust, Inc. The museum opened in 1990 with a collection of more than 2,500 Santas donated by the family of Mrs. Hopkins.
In 2019, the museum underwent an expansion that added two new collections and a gallery room. 2023 brought further changes, including the addition of a hand-painted mural to the outside of the building and converting the garage into a third gallery room. Eight Santa collections are currently housed in the museum, including several specialty Santas and an assortment of Santas from around the world.
The Santa Claus Museum boasts a collection of more than 5,000 Santas, encompassing everything from figurines to music boxes, dolls, dishes, and ornaments, as well as artwork and needlework. With only two museums dedicated to Santa Claus in the entire United States, the Santa Claus Museum in Columbus is a truly unique, family-friendly destination.
