If you start a company to produce ceramic replicas of houses suitable for the different historical and fictional scenarios that whatever? I am sure that Department 56 is not the first phrase that comes to mind, so how did yours? Let's find out.
Welcome to Stillwater
One Christmas, a group of friends planned to celebrate the festival with a quiet dinner in Stillwater Minnesota, a quiet town along the St. Croix River. Decorated for the holidays and covered with a blanket of fresh snow, this idyllic and picturesque village captivated friends. As they dined at an inn in peaceful countryside, the charm of the lights sparkling street in the newly fallen snow led to a night of wonderful Christmas memories. The telling of stories and memories were the inspiration to recreate this scene with a lighted Christmas village.
More than 30 years, Bachman, a premiere retail florist in Minneapolis, use a numbering system to identify each of their departments. The division of wholesale gift was Department 56. The dream was brought to life when, in 1976, Department 56 introduced A series of six hand-painted, ceramic buildings. These buildings are opening the founding of the Villa of the original series of snow, and the rest is history.
Currently based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Department 56 is a leader in the gift, collectibles and holiday decorating industry. They are best known handmade by their enlightened peoples and figures Snowbabies ™.
Some key dates in the history of the Department 56 include:
1976 – Department 56 introduces six charming, lighted ceramic buildings. The Original Snow ® VillageÂ.
1979 – Original Snow Village designs retirees and 12 buildings newly introduced. First accessories Village.
1984 – Dicken's Village ® Series released (seven nostalgic shops and a church in Victorian England). First heritage village in the Village ® Collection.
1986 – The Heritage Village Collection expanded to include the New England series and the people of the Alps Series Village ® and The World of Snowbabies ™ figurines are introduced.
1987 – Christmas in the City ® and the little town of Bethlehem ™ add the Heritage Village collection.
1990 – The North Pole Series ™ is added to the Heritage Village Collection.
1994 – Introduction of the Parks and Disney Village Series ™ Snowbunnies ®.
1997 – The Classic series Adorno introduced.
1998 – Seasons Berry ™, the first year-round hall, which represent an American late 19th century Century City Resort.
Elf Land ™, an extension of the North Pole Series ™, is introduced. In addition, Snow Village Halloween introduced (did you know that Halloween is the second most celebrated holiday in the U.S.?).
2001 – Parts special limited edition are designed to mark the 25th anniversary of Snow ® Original VillageÂ
2005 – A new series of mid-levels of people, "A Christmas Story" is sold exclusively through Sears department stores.
Today, the Department 56 villages are Holiday treasure of memories that span a variety of times, places and imagination.
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