Heartland View

Media Credit: Meredith Wilmes

Media Credit: Meredith Wilmes

Media Credit: Meredith Wilmes

Media Credit: Meredith Wilmes

A house is often a reflection of its owner and Vaile Mansion in Independence, Mo., is no different. More than a century after original owner Harvey Merrick Vaile's death in 1894, his historic 31-room Victorian style mansion reveals as many features to his personality as there are rooms in his home.

The detailing of the house not only shows the wealth of Mr. Vaile, but his many interests. He was a journalist, lawyer, active politician, cattle farmer, a successful businessman, but most of all he liked to entertain.

Today, the main attraction of the home is its Christmas decorations, which highlights the attention to those intricate details. Whether you go for to experience the "Best Historic Homes Tour," as named by Discover Mid-America Magazine, or simply to enjoy the decorations, Vaile Mansion is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit.

The mansion is a "showcase" from the outside in. The enormous red brick structure, trimmed with limestone exterior, reflects the ornate details of a style that is referred to as Second-Empire French Revival.

On the inside, the initial impact of the beautiful lights and decor almost overshadow the style of the home. After spending time listening to the tour guides, one can only appreciate the attention to both the detail of the home as well as the efforts of the Vaile Victorian Society.

The most striking decoration is the upside down Christmas tree hanging from the ceiling just pass the main entrance of the house next to the grand staircase.

"This is the only decoration we repeat every year," tour guide and board member of the Vaile Victorian Society, Mary Anne, said.

The importance of the grand staircase was also explained as she took the tour group to the kitchen and revealed a back set of stairs.

"At sixteen now our students get to drive. Back then, they just got to use the grand staircase," she said explaining the vast differences of the times.

Yet another difference was exposed upstairs. The library looks much like one would imagine, except for a giant rolling piece of furniture by the window.

"It's a lawyer's table," tour guide Ron Potter said.

Potter explained that this rare desk had everything Mr. Vaile needed when he represented one of his clients in court. It was big, heavy and not very practical, but it was state of the art for the 1800s.

After the death of Mr. Vaile and his wife Sophie, the mansion was sold and converted into a mental home.

Now, with the help of the City of Independence and the Vaile Victorian Society, the home has been restored for its original purpose, to showcase and entertain.

Historical Vaile draws a crowd with the yearly Christmas display, hosting themed tea parties and the famous Strawberry Festival in June. The mansion is closed January through March.

Five dollar tours begin at 10 a.m. daily and 1 p.m. on Sundays ending at 4 p.m.

Vaile Mansion is located on 1500 North Liberty Road, right off of Highway 24.

For more information call the mansion at 816.325.7430.

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