‘Tis the season to decorate your home for the holidays, but all inflatable lawn ornaments and window appliqués aside, no one does it with quite as much class as Maine’s own historic landmark, Victoria Mansion, also known as the Morse-Libby Mansion, located on Danforth Street in Portland.

You wouldn’t know it by just glancing at it from the street, but the large free-standing brownstone home is an absolute testimony to ornate Victorian-era styling.

Built for the Morse family between 1858 and 1860 as a summer home, the hotelier wanted a relaxing place that would impress guests and visitors — something it still does today. The home traded hands to the Libby family in 1894 and became a museum after William H. Holmes purchased it in 1940. The Victoria Society of Maine Women assumed control in 1943 and has since operated the building as a historic house museum.

Walking through the doors is a step back in time — a time when aureate décor, resplendent fabrics and lavish hand-made furnishings reflected one’s wealth and social standing. During the Christmas season, add in the extravagant holiday decorations and floral arrangements from local businesses, which volunteer time and materials to spruce up the mansion for the season, and you have a recipe for jump-starting the holiday mood for even the most Scrooge-like bah-humbug on your list.

Tours during the Christmas season are self guided, with a written program. It’s difficult to take in all of the intricate details in each room if you go too quickly. At times I found myself lingering, scanning the entirety from ceiling to floor several times over in order not to miss a single curved molding or trompe l’oeil painting.

If you wanted to play a drawn-out game of “I spy,” this would be the place to do it.

The Victorian décor executed by German-born interior designer Gustave Herter for the Morse family verges on the edge of stimulation overload, but each room has a theme that brings the myriad materials and designs together.

The parlor, with the theme of love and romance, is painted in muted creams with scenes from the Iliad on the ceiling and cherubs and cupids dancing on the walls, furniture and gaselier. A collection of antique wassailers stand around an 1898 Emerald Polyphon music box flanked by a traditional tree and matching wreaths. It was when Julia Kirby, deputy director of Victoria Mansion, wound the Polyphon and I heard the tinkling of the chords and bells that the holiday spirit finally surged through my blood.

Wandering through the mansion to the delicate music, I encountered Santa Claus and a relaxed reindeer taking refuge in the Red Bedroom, a man puffing on a hookah in the Turkish Smoking Room, and all kinds of period holiday knick-knacks, from garlands winding down the three-floored “flying” staircase to candles and pearls in the Green Bedroom.

As I made my way back down the stairs, a group of youngsters were squealing with delight as their chaperons took them to the dining room and pointed out carved vegetables in the oak chairs and a faux boar’s head on the table.

“There’s so much to see,” said 7-year-old Jenny Rasco, who dressed up for her second visit to the house. “I like how it’s really fancy. The Christmas trees and the sitting room are my favorites. It’s really like Christmas.”

As she scurried off to join the rest of her troop upstairs, I couldn’t help but think after seeing all the festive decorations here that, yes, Jenny, it is really like Christmas, isn’t it?

This year’s theme is “Let the Christmas Bells Ring!” and marks the 25th anniversary of Christmas at the Mansion.

Festive facts

Hours:

• Regular season: May-October, Monday-Saturday 10-4, Sunday 1-5; closed Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day — 45-minute tours

• Christmas: Nov. 27-Jan. 3; daily 11-5; closed Christmas Day and New Years Day — tours are self guided with a program

Cost:

• Regular season: adults: $15; seniors (62 and over)/AAA: $13.50; students 6-17: $5; under 6: free

Family admission: $35 per family (up to 2 adults and 5 children ages 6-17 from the same household)

• Christmas at Victoria Mansion: No senior or special discounts are offered during Christmas season; adults: $15; students 6-17: $5; under 6: free

Family admission: $35 per family (up to 2 adults and 5 children ages 6-17 from the same household)

Location: 109 Danforth St, Portland

Contact: 207-772-4841 and information@victoriamansion.org

The Victorian Mansion in Portland is all decked out for Christmas tours.

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