Des Moines, Iowa — A children’s story about the governor’s mansion in Des Moines will be featured at this Sunday’s “Christmas at Terrace Hill” event.
Susan Maupin Schmid is a tour guide at the mansion.
Maupin Schmid, by the way, is also a children’s book author.
The governor will read the story once Sunday afternoon, at the Carriage House on the property. Animated illustrations created by Ames artist Tara Gartin to go along with the story will be projected on a screen.
Maupin Schmid hopes to get the story and illustrations released in book form later. Her first children’s book was published in 2008 and in 2016 she released a trilogy.
Maupin Schmid’s fascination with castles and large historic homes like Terrace Hill started when she was in grade school and took a tour of the Dodge House in Council Bluffs.
It seems natural, then, that she wound up giving tours at Terrace Hill, but someone else prodded her to apply.
More than 300 tickets have been sold for Sunday’s event, which starts at 1 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Guests will be able to tour the home’s first and second floors, which have been decorated for the holiday. Maupin Schmid, in tour guide mode, says those with keen eyes will notice important details.
She also credits those who’ve maintained the home over the years.
Online ticket sales for the event end at midnight Saturday. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are 25 dollars each and 50 dollars for a household. The money goes to a fund for upkeep and improvements at the manion. A Christmas at Terrace Hill event was held in 2019, but nothing was planned for last December due to the pandemic. The event coordinator for Terrace Hill says guests this Sunday are welcome to wear face coverings if they wish, but it won’t be required.
