A Christmas Story House and Museum

The famous leg lamp Tim Evanson / CC BY-SA 2.0

For many Americans, the 1983 film A Christmas Story is the platonic ideal of holiday entertainment, and the actual home used in the film is now restored to its cinema quality. There is even a museum devoted to the singular movie directly across the street.

The location itself was originally chosen due to its firmly mundane 1940s style and yet, thanks to the film, the simple abode is now one of the most iconic buildings in Western media, with Christmas decorations and tchotchkes paying homage to the famous facade. The owner of the house began by selling replica “leg lamps” like the one featured in A Christmas Story’s most memorable scene, and was eventually able to purchase the home from the movie. He has since completely remodeled the interior to be an exact replica of the home in the film. Visitors can walk through the period-modeled site, tasting the soap Ralphie washed his mouth out with or firing a BB gun in the backyard.

The museum across the street continues the obsession with the film and features a number of movie props such as little brother Randy’s snowsuit and all the toys from the department store window that Ralphie fawns over. If you can’t wait to watch A Christmas Story as it airs non-stop on cable this holiday, you can actually head to Cleveland and live the experience.

Know Before You Go

Via 80 (Ohio Turnpike): Take 80 West to I-71 North. Exit at the W.14th exit. Follow the signs for 14th north around the traffic circle, then turn right onto Rowley Ave.

Via 480: Take 480 West to 176 North. Exit at the W.14th exit. Follow the signs for 14th north around the traffic circle, then turn right onto Rowley Ave.

Via 90: Take 90 West to the W.14th exit. Head South on W.14th, turn left onto Clark Ave. and Right onto W 11th.

From the West: Via 80 (Ohio Turnpike): Take 80 East to I-71 North. Exit at the W.14th exit. Follow the signs for 14th north around the traffic circle, then turn right onto Rowley Ave.

Via 480: Take 480 East to I-71 North. Exit at the W.14th exit. Follow the signs for 14th north around the traffic circle, then turn right onto Rowley Ave.

Via 90: Take 90 East exit at the W.25th exit. Turn Right onto W.25th, left onto Clark Ave. then right onto W. 11th.From the south.Via I-71:Take I-71 North. Exit at the W.14th exit. Follow the signs for 14th north around the traffic circle, then turn right onto Rowley Ave.

Via 77: Take 77 North to 90 West. Exit at the W.14th exit. Head South on W.14th, turn left onto Clark Ave. and Right onto W 11th.

From Downtown Cleveland: Take 90 West to the W.14th exit. Head South on W.14th, turn left onto Clark Ave. and Right onto W 11th.

Tours are guided and run every hour. If you save your ticket you get 10 percent off food at Rowleys across the street. If you pick up the phone upstairs, you will be yelled at by an angry mother.