Here's Where You Can Visit The House From A Christmas Story
The movie "A Christmas Story" has been filling homes with holiday magic since 1983, according to IMDb. Who could forget Ralphie's father's affinity for swearing? Or Ralphie's annoyance with his little brother Randy's incessant whining? Or Ralphie's mother washing his mouth out with Lifebuoy, prompting daydreams of soap-poisoning induced blindness?
Honest and hilarious depictions of a loving family during the craziness of the holiday season have made "A Christmas Story" one of the most iconic holiday films of all time. Though scenes featuring the interior of the Parker family home were shot on a stage set, per Cleveland Historical, the scenes depicting the exterior of their home were filmed at a real house. The house's interior has since gone through a complete remodel to be a near-perfect replica of the house in the movie and a museum for fans of all ages to visit, complete with a Christmas tree and a refrigerator full of Ovaltine. There is even a gift shop where fans can buy memorabilia such as pink bunny suits or leg lamps, as seen in the movie. The most dedicated fans can even stay in the house (or in the Bumpus' house next door) and live a day in the life of Ralphie and his family, according to A Christmas Story House and Museum.
Real life movie magic
Though the movie took place in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, the real house is actually in Cleveland, Ohio's Tremont neighborhood, explains Cleveland Historical. Located at 3159 West 11th Street, the colonial-style home was built in 1895. Director Bob Clark selected the house for use in the film after the Higbee's department store in downtown Cleveland responded to allow filming at their location.
Brian M. Jones, an entrepreneur, bought the house from "A Christmas Story" two decades after the film was released. Jones watched the movie frame by frame to draw floorplans for the home to be a replica of the movie set. He spent $240,000 renovating the house before adding movie props and turning it into a museum with a gift shop. There is even a memorial bench dedicated to Bob Clark in the exact spot where he made a cameo in the movie. According to the house's official website, A Christmas Story House and Museum, fans can book a stay in one of two suites next door at the Bumpus' house or stay in the upstairs loft of the "A Christmas Story" house, with access to the entire house after the museum closes until it opens the following day.
The power of holiday nostalgia
According to Cleveland Historical, on November 25, 2006, the "A Christmas Story" museum and gift shop opened to the public. During the opening weekend, over 4,000 fans visited the museum, and since then, tens of thousands have visited.
The museum and gift shop draw so many guests due to the popularity of the film. "A Christmas Story" is a classic holiday film but isn't a typical story about angels and the traditional true meaning of Christmas, explains Direct TV. It's not about a perfect family in a perfect house, but rather a real family of people who love each other despite not always getting along. It shows that holiday magic can be found in imperfect moments and that imperfect families can share the most love. The movie reminds us that how a house looks or the stuff inside it isn't nearly as important as the love between those who reside there and that Christmas is a time to put aside differences and come together around the Christmas tree (and a leg lamp in the window).
The film represents a typical American family and allows people to see themselves and their families represented on the tv screen. The relatable, funny, and often-chaotic holiday memories of Ralphie and his family remind fans of their own families and their own holiday memories. And for many, visiting the house from "A Christmas Story" brings those memories to life.