The Lexington County Museum was buzzing with activity recently.

Nearly 500 people showed up for the Christmas open House Dec. 8.

The museum has offered these tours since at least 1997, maybe even longer according to Museum Director J.R. Fennell.

The museum is made up of 36 historic houses and outbuildings on 7-acres in the historic area of Lexington.

Visitors were treated to tours inside 5 of the houses and the Oak Grove Schoolhouse.

There was also a coloring station for children at the Daniel Koon House.

Demonstrations of historic woodworking, colonial cooking, quill pen writing, basket weaving and blacksmithing were shown.

Approximately 35 volunteers, most of them in colonial period attire, made every spot on the tour enjoyable and informative.

The museum was established as a department of Lexington County Government in 1970. It showcases the colonial and Antebellum period with a strong focus on the German and Swiss heritage of Lexington County.

Among the hundreds of relics at the museum is a large collection of locally made artifacts including textiles, quilts, pottery and furniture.

If you missed the Christmas Open House, you can visit the museum Tuesday–Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm.