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A Christmas Story House and Museum
Categories: Local Flavor Public Services & Government Landmarks & Historical Buildings Local Flavor, Landmarks & Historical Buildings [Edit]
3159 W 11th StCleveland, OH 44109
(216) 298-4919
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
23 reviews for A Christmas Story House and Museum
Review Highlights
23 reviews in English
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Review from Tim M.
New Haven, CT
12/7/2011
Ok, I haven't gone there in person yet, but their website alone gets 5 stars! I noticed something odd, though and I hope someone will indulge me.
I started comparing the photos of the restored house with how the house looked in the movie. They did an amazing job, by the way. I was paying particular attention to the shed in the backyard. Call me crazy, but it's not the same shed! I found that strange since they supposedly filmed those yard scenes on location, in the actual yard.
1) In the movie, there is no door in the front (just some tools leaning against it), but the "real" shed has a door (and it looks just as old as the rest of the shed, not added later).
2) In the movie, the small window in the front of the shed is way over to the left side, right against the corner of the shed. But in "reality" its closer to where the door is.
3) Lastly, the "real" shed as a second window, on the right end of the shed. But in the movie there is no window there. What gives?
I'm really not a Christmas Story "freak" (honest!) I'm just a little too observant I guess. :) -
Review from Jessica M.
Akron, OH
12/7/2011
This place is a MUST if you have friends or family visiting from out of town, or if you are a giant pop culture nerd like myself.
We went on a Saturday, and it was busy, but not overwhelmingly so. I love that the house itself is interactive. Do you want to crawl under the sink and hide, because you're worried "daddy's gonna kill Ralphie"? Go for it. Sit at the table and read the newspaper? Do that, too.
There are tons and tons of photo opportunities throughout the house. I especially love that there are props (hats, bb guns, even the Pink Nightmare costume) throughout, and you are encouraged to use them. -
Review from Jeff T.
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
How do you compare A Christmas Story House to anything else?? It's a one and only, at least I hope so. Stopped in over the Holiday weekend and after walking through the place I really wanted to rush home and watch the movie. Lots of cool facts and memorabilia for young and old. It's priced about right at $10 per person. The museum is a little cramped but had one of the angry elves singing autographs. The gift shop, in my opinion, was overpriced and not very comfortable to walk around it. All in all, its worth the trip especially if your local and have never been. I was lucky enough to have the wife put the footy pajamas on and pose for a picture, priceless.
Don't pay to park unless you absolutely have to, we easily found a spot around the corner. -
Review from Alyssa E.
1/24/2012
Shortly after Christmas, my sister and I decided that, $10 ticket be damned, we were going to see the Christmas Story House. To our surprise, we had quite a bit of fun! The house is very interactive, with pink bunny suits and aviator hats to try on and leg lamps to fondle. We were even encouraged to climb under the kitchen sink and cry about how "Daddy's gonna kill Ralphie!" This is definitely a place to bring your camera. The only real downsides for me were the $10 ticket (that seemed a bit much to fake soap poisoning in the bathroom) and that there wasn't much of a "museum" aspect. I would have loved to hear more about the filming of the movie. Overall, a good place to goof-around for an hour.
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Review from Mihae C.
Rockville, MD
5/12/2011
I guess I can't fully review this place since it was closed the day my bf and I went here. I had no idea that this place is closed MON-FRI! My roadtrip organization skills have been sub-par this particular trip from MD to Louisville, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan (really, I have been all over the place, not listing hours, admission prices, or other important information on my google maps). Anyway, I was so disappointed not to be able to go into the house. I had never watched the movie as a kid, but I actually watched it with my bf right before this trip to prepare myself. Who knew I'd end up LOVING the movie and hollering, "You'll shoot your eye out!" every few seconds while looking forward to visiting the Christmas Story House. You have no idea how sad I was when we got in front of the house and saw that it was closed...
Anyhow, for those who plan to visit, please note in your itinerary that this place is closed Mon-Wed.
Their hours:
Thursday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Sundays 12pm-5pm
I could only give 3 stars since I only got to see the outside of the house. I'm sure my rating would have been much higher if I got the full experience. -
Review from Adam H.
10/4/2011
A disclaimer: This movie is deeply embeded with fond Christmas memories for me. This movie has always been a staple of Christmas cheer. I am the kind of person who collects the Christmas Story Village sets, gives away Christmas Story Christmas cards each year, and wraps up gifts in Christmas Story wrapping paper. I love this movie and all the childhood holiday good feelings of the past it helps me remember. Thus, this review may be biased.
I learned of this place about three years ago. And every year since then plans have been made to make the trek from Chicago to Cleveland to visit it. But, every year it doesn't happen. Weather, work, or various elements always got in the way. But not this year. This year was the year. After looking at the website and seeing that Ian Petrella, the actor who played Randy, was going to be at the house to help with the tours during the summer, the plans to visit the house in November were scratched and a new plan to come in August was put into high gear. Cleveland hotel accomodations were taken care of, dinner reservations were made, and addresses were put into the GPS. Yes, my wife and I were finally going to go to the house and celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary in the process. The house and museum did not dissapoint.
Parking was easy. The house is in the middle of a regular neighborhood with nothing else around so the free street parking was simple and abundent. I remember reading a past review that stated the neighborhood was sketchy and they feared for their safety, but I disagree. It's a normal city neighborhood. Kinda worn out in places but people are hanging out on their porches, some are walking dogs, kids are riding bikes, nothing told me to watch my back. When approaching the house the first thing we did was buy tickets for the tour. These are purchased in the gift shop across the street. While we waited for our tour we walked about the gift shop and it was pretty sweet. They had leg lamps, shirts, plenty of Christmas Story Village pieces to purchase. I wanted to buy everything.
When the time of our tour came near we went over to the house and waited on the porch taking pictures of the leg lamp that sits in the front window. Eventually a guide met us outside and began the tour by explaining to us all the insides and outs of the movie, how it was funded, some fun facts about the filming process. She then told us something I forgot about and it kind of crushed me. The interior scenes of the movie were filmed on a sound stage in Canada. I knew that. I did. But for some reason my brain forgot that fact and because the house looks so similar on the outside I just assumed it would look the same in the inside. The tour guide must have read my face of dissapointment because she then went into the story of how the house was restored. How the owner loves the movie and how after he purchased the house he went to great lengths to make it look and feel like it does in the movie inside and out. We then went through the front door and standing there was Randy.
Ian Petrella seems like a good guy. During our 10 minutes or so with him talking to the group, he answered questions, let us take pictures with him, and then signed some autographs. Sure, I had to pay for the autographs but seeming my family are such huge fans I didn't care and bought five of them for gifts. Seeing how many I wanted he then threw in a free signed poster. Thanks Ian. The inside of the house is fun. It's not exactly like the movie but they have a lot of cool touches that make it pretty close. After talking to "Randy" the tour guide just let us roam around the house and have fun. My wife and I had a blast taking pictures around the house. We posed with the leg lamp, read the newspaper at the table, and of course sat in the bathroom with a soap bar in my mouth. Yep. They had the soap just sitting there and I, like I'm assuming and hoping others have done in the past, put the bar in my mouth and took a picture. Tasted gross and was probably littered with germs, but totally worth it. The only problem with the final part of the tour is that it was too quick for us. The guides were telling people to leave and we still wanted to have fun in there. But, really, the whole event cost only $8 bucks a person so being hurried didn't really bother me and I was almost tempted to buy another ticket to go back in. But I didn't and left the house content and happy.
The museum, which is directly across the street from the house, is small, cute, and had some cool memorabilia. The museum is not the reason to come to this place but it was a nice cherry on top of the Christmas Story House experience. The whole event will probably take less than an hour but if you like this movie even a little there is enough fun to be had and it's worth the trip. And if you were raised on this film and love this film then there is no question you should finally, like me, make the pilgrimage and visit this wonderful house. -
Review from Jess F.
11/27/2010
Growing up in Cleveland I can't believe it took me as long as it did to get a tour of this place. This movie is an absolute classic. They sell leg lamps and many movie memorabilia there. You can pretty much touch everything in the house, try on hats, hold the bowling ball, and take pictures of everything.
The day I went for a tour Ian Petrella (Randy Parker) was in the house answering questions and talking about the movie. Apparently he is there every year and even does dinner with guests and the Chinese restaurant down the street!
If you've ever seen the movie coming to the house is a must...my friend even crawled under the sink :)Listed in: Best places to see when…
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Review from Kara Z.
8/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cool museum- great stories- great experience- especially if you remember the details of the movie. They let you take pictures everywhere- awesome! They have a really good gift shop too- packed with A Christmas Story items, including the the famous leg lamps. Fun!
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Review from Jorjette J.
Phoenix, AZ
11/9/2011
I have been looking forward to going here for two years! This was a movie that was constantly watched in my family around the holidays while I was growing up. Although we all love this movie, my older sister "triple dog" loves this movie! The opportunity to came up to visit this year when we planned a family vacation from Phoenix, AZ to Dayton, OH. MAKE SURE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK when you are planning the trip so you have it all planned out. At the time of year we went they are only open from Thursday-Sunday. We drove from Dayton to Cleveland on a Wednesday night in pouring, pouring, pouring down rain! Nothing was going to stop us...and it was well worth it.
We arrived a few minutes before they opened. Parking was so easy, too easy in fact. I see previous mention to the neighborhood, we had no problems. It was very quiet that day and I was no way, shape, or form leery about it.
We took many pictures before starting the tour. Jen was our tour guide. She was PHENOMENAL. Yes, she is quite the ball of energy but it only took me a few minutes to realize how much she loves this move and how much she loves her job. Once she gave us the background and history of the movie and the house, we were free to explore the house and it's property. Jen had great photo ideas. She took several pictures of my sister and I together and even showed me how to work a feature on my camera! Jen also recommended several other tourist places and great places to eat. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is A Christmas Story fan! -
Review from Rob S.
8/7/2009
Friends come from out of town. In between getting drunk and playing endless hours of Rock Band, we hit up the finer things Cleveland has to offer: fantastic art museum, the totally underrated Rock Hall, etc. The thing they were the most excited about? Seeing this place.
I had been here a few times with family, but never took the tour because, eh, that crap's for kids, right? Wow, I was totally wrong. Even visiting in late July, there was a definite magical awesomeness about standing in the same doorway Ralphie's dad did when he received his "major award." They have the leg lamp, a B.B. gun shooting range, the whole spiel. A lot of thought and care went into this place. -
Review from Keith Y.
San Jose, CA
1/4/2008 5 photos
Not too often do you get to walk down a true memory lane but upon our recent visit to Cleveland we exactly had a chance to do this. Having an afternoon to wander about we found ourselves hailing a cab and a short two and a half miles from downtown we found it sitting there like an oasis in the middle of suburbia, USA, A Christmas Story House.
No snow but just the same it was a perfectly dark cold day with the leg lamp in the window acting like a beckoning beacon to all those on a journey to a childhood Mecca. It was perfect, young couples, old couples, groups of girls and families with kids running around shouting the immortal words," You'll shoot your eye out!"
The house itself was nicely refurbished with all the correct interior treasures. Downstairs in the living room along with the leg lamp in the window was the half open, straw filled "Italian" FRAGILE wooden crate and a half torn open "official Red Ryder carbine action 200 shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time" tucked into one corner next to the desk. Upstairs had the Lifebuoy soap bathroom complete with a decoder ring sitting on the hamper, the kitchen along with the sink, had the obligatory stove with a turkey sitting in the roasting pan waiting for the Bumpass's dogs to make their appearance. Outside in the backyard was the little shed where the "icicle had broken off the eave and hit Ralphie in the eye"
All in all worth the seven bucks, so if you liked the movie and if you're ever in the area, go visit, I triple dog dare ya'!Listed in: No Reservations (Mini Tour)
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Review from Marion B.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2010
The mere fact that this exists brings tears of joy to my eyes. When I lived in the Cleve, I lived on W. 11th, and I still get cool points for saying that.
The shed (over which Ralphie chased Black Bart and his minions) is there, the lamp is there, the phone in the hallway...
It's glorious and wonderful and just screams Cleve-O -
Review from Tony A.
Oviedo, FL
9/5/2011
This was the highlight of our trip to Cleveland and it is well worth the trip out of downtown. We visited during winter with about a foot of snow on the ground so it really set the stage. It is like stepping into the movie. The tour staff was very knowledgeable and the gift shop was well stocked with interesting merchandise.
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Review from Angel S.
Bartlett, IL
11/28/2010
If you're in Cleveland--Don't miss this museum.
The tour guides are very energetic and love the movie. They add to the experience. We got to meet Ian Petrella as well, and have our picture taken with him.
Great story about how this museum came about. We had a great time, and think it was the best $8 we spent in Cleveland. -
Review from Laura H.
Columbus, OH
8/23/2011
Great tour for the $8 fee - jump on it. They run every half hour from 10 to 4:30. Totally worth the history in how the movie became an idea all from a first date and how it transpired into a huge holiday favorite. Randy the kid brother real actor was there offering autographs for $10. That was nice. The house looks just like the movie. The tour guides are VERY knowledgeable and had excellent story telling skills. Totally worth it. What I find funny is most of my friends who live there in Cleveland have never been! GO! It's the bomb! :)
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Review from Nat C.
Quincy, MA
8/20/2010
driving from Chicago to New Jersey, we made a stop in Cleveland - boy was I psyched to find out that the Christmas Story house was here! We did the brief tour. Found out that only a few shots of the movie were done inside (when Ralphie writes his letter and when he looks outside at Christmas) the rest of the inside shots were done on a set in Canada. The house was redone by the owner to the best of his ability to do right by the original. Looked nice.
We even got to meet Ian Petrella (Randy) who is there from time to time - I am wicked curious to hear about what kind of crazies he meets. It was a pretty cool place to see and get pics of. -
Review from Shannon M.
San Jose, CA
3/30/2010
I loathe Cleveland. Its a subjective opinion. Some people (like myself) don't like SPAM. Some do. Cleveland is geographical SPAM. (Cincinnati would be geographical TREET.)
However, if you find yourself in Cleveland (paying off a karmic debt?), then this slice of pop-culture cheese is worth a visit.Listed in: Roadside attractions,…
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Review from Larissa A.
Quincy, MA
11/22/2009
What a great place!! A friends mom had told us about this place so on our recent drive to Chicago we made sure to stop here for our halfway point.
GLAD WE DID!
My friend is a HUGE fan of the movie. The staff here all are too which only adds to the experience. So many interesting tidbits of inside information and memorabilia.
A must see for fans and movie buffs.
Great gift shop, pricey but full of fun things. -
Review from Scott S.
Girard, OH
11/8/2009
We took the trip down the Ohio turnpike and went to visit this house and museum of which of course is in the famous movie that which is played for 24 hours on TBS every Christmas Eve.
We arrived today at 12:15 PM and the first tour starts at 12:30. We walked around the outside of the house after we purchased our tickets at the gift shop across the street. The gift shop itself is quaint but offers all of the Christmas story memorabilia you could want. We shopped but didn't purchase as the prices are a bit high. Nice to walk around and look at the different items you could buy though.
Now the tour. Our guide walk us into the house and gave an approx. 15 minute talk on the history of the house and how most of the movie (80%) was actually shot in Canada on a sound stage. This kind of took away from the experience but nevertheless it was neat. We took photos of the inside and outside. Of course we got a shot of the infamous "Leg Lamp" along with the other nostalgic items that were in the house. The down side of the visit was the time constraints. After the fifteen minute speech, we were allowed to walk around the house but for only fifteen minutes as the next tour began. With the amount of people taking photos, us included, 15 minutes was not enough time. We hurried but still got the photos we wanted.
We completed our visit by walking across the street to the museum. It too is small but contains actual props that were used in the movie. You could take pictures but without flash and no recordings either. It was a pleasant visit overall and the kids enjoyed it too. Although, they did become antsy listening to the tour guide talk but otherwise they had fun.Listed in: Kid Friendly Places
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Review from Kimberly K.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2007
so living in the area, you can't help but feel a bit of hometown pride at the fact that a piece of holiday americana is right here in clevo. and yes, i have a bit of an issue that some private owner just bought the house and renovated it for his own money making scheme...
...but it's the house from a christmas story, man. and that's my childhood right there. so i buy into it. what can i say. i'm a sucka.
it's only $7 to get in, and the house really does look like the movie. across the street is a garage with the car from the movie (ohhhhh fuuuuuuuudge) and of course, a gift shop where you buy your tickets to go into the house and also any christmas story holiday you could ever want to buy.
ornaments, magnets, red rider bb guns (the packages really look like in the movie)...and of course, the ill-fated leg lamp.
i think it's cool that a lot of the businesses in tremont put up the leg lamp in their front windows. see? hometown pride. that's cool.
...and yeah, i bought one.
i mean, wouldn't you want the glow of illuminated sex in your front window?
i don't have a tree, but i have a friggin' leg lamp. now *that's* christmas, baby.
if you need a dose of holiday fun in the land of cleves, head over to the little mecca of ralphie's world. i think it's kinda neat.
though i could have done without the consumer scavengers snatching up leg lamps out of each others' hands. that's just plain rude.Listed in: My Old C-Town Neighborhood
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Review from john s.
Falls Church, VA
12/3/2010
This is pretty cool even if you aren't a huge fan of the movie. Don't bother with the tacky gift shop or paying to park on one of the neighbors lawns. Plenty of free street parking. You gotta feel for the neighbors around Christmas time, it can be mobbed.
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Review from Lauren P.
11/28/2009 7 photos
what a cool little part of cleveland history! watching "the christmas story" is a tradition in our house, so i knew i'd have to make a trip to the ultimate shrine sooner or later. my boyfriend came home with me last thanksgiving, so we decided to check it out. i was a little hesitant about going during thanksgiving week - i anticipated there'd be tons of people - but we went early and surprisingly, it wasn't a problem.
tickets are only $7.50 (!) and include both the house and the museum/gift shop. the house hosts a guided tour every half hour, but we opted out and did a self guided tour instead. the house is well renovated and easy to navigate, and the museum is full of props and wardrobe from the movie. great for both the fanatic and the casual fan.Listed in: cleveland rocks
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Review from Grace F.
Richboro, PA
9/11/2009
Even though we stopped in Cleveland to specifically see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this was a highlight of our road trip. Seeing the major award in the window was awesome, the tour of the house was fun and we learned interesting tidbits from our guide. If you are a fan of A Christmas Story, you can't miss this opportunity to visit the house.
