Santa Claus Museum & Village
Visit the Santa Claus Museum & Village to step into the town’s fascinating history. Explore a collection of original town buildings dating back to 1856. Write a letter to Santa from the town’s first post office. And, feel the ageless beauty as you walk into the completely original 1880 Santa Claus Church. Visit the fully restored 1935 Santa Statue, towering 22 feet tall and “dedicated to the children of the world.”
Inside the museum, trace the town’s interesting history from the mid-1800s to today. See historical documents, photos, and artifacts from museum founder and Chief Elf Pat Koch’s private collection. Visitors will see Holiday World archives as well as loaned and donated treasures from collectors with personal ties to the rich history of the town of Santa Claus.
Visitors will be surprised and delighted with the variety of memorabilia, photos, and articles on display.
Santa Claus Museum Exhibits:
- The early beginnings of Santa Claus, Indiana
- The history of the famous Santa Claus Post Office
- The start of tourism in Santa Claus with Santa’s Candy Castle and Barrett Park
- The history of Santa Claus Land and its evolution to Holiday World
- Letters to Santa and the local tradition of responding to the thousands of children who send them from all over the world
- Antique toys and dolls
Be sure to take home a piece of the magic by checking out the Santa Claus Museum Gift Shop featuring exclusive Santa Claus souvenirs and nostalgic Christmas items. Admission to the Santa Claus Museum & Village is free but donations are welcome.
Send your letter to Santa year-round; personalized replies are sent in December!
P.O. Box 1
Santa Claus, IN 47579
This attraction is open seasonally and hours may vary.
Click here to see the hours of operation for local attractions and restaurants.
Need better hours
Reviewed 10-12-19
Tried on two occasions to visit the museum and it was never open. Very disappointing. I would have liked to visit here Read More
Cute little museum and souvenir shop.
Reviewed 10-09-19
Gives you a real flavor of why and how Santa Claus Indiana came to be. Nice for adults and older children. If you are driving through the area you should stop for a visit. Read More
Santa Claus Museum and Gift Shop
Reviewed 10-09-19
Small Museum with gifts beyond what you find at the local amusement park. Also lots of items in history to teach you about our little town of Santa Claus Indiana. See how we started, how small we... Read More
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Explore Nearby
On the map below, you'll find Santa Claus Museum & Village, as well as a few of the lodging, dining, and activities that are close by.
THINGS TO SEE & DO
DINING OPTIONS
PLACES TO STAY
