Santa stops by Smithsonian to open holiday exhibit

WASHINGTON (AP) - Santa Claus is making an early appearance to open a new exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History on the art and business of holiday displays.

The exhibit is a first for the museum and opens Friday. It covers the elaborate department store windows and retail displays dating back to the 1920s, as well as the creation of floats for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The exhibit follows the research of curator William Bird who examined the history of holiday displays from the early 20th century.

The exhibit will be on display through the holiday season and much of the next year.

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