National Museum of Toys and Miniatures Tours and Activities

The collection of the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City is one of the largest of its kind in the world, assembled over many years from cherished items donated by local collectors. Happy childhood memories will come flooding back as you wander around the exhibits, many still in their original pristine condition, others well-loved and showing their age.The highlight of the museum is its collection of dolls’ houses, some dating back over two hundred years. As well as being beautifully crafted works of art in their own right, the historically accurate houses offer a fascinating insight into the domestic life of past generations. There’s plenty to admire, from a huge 3-metre high house with its own gas supply and running water to tiny items of furniture and ornaments, fashioned in painstaking detail.A section of the museum is dedicated to tin and metal models featuring historic planes, trains, cars and vans, gaily painted in their original livery and with a wealth of authentic details. The interactive marble room is a popular feature, with over a million brightly coloured orbs rolling around in imaginative displays.As well as historic toys and models from all around the world, including valuable and rare items from Britain, France and Russia, the museum owns one of the largest collections of works by the modern American miniature-maker William Robertson. Many of his intricately crafted items from his 25-year career are on display.The Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City is on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus. There is free on-site parking and a bus stop nearby. The museum is open from Wednesday to Saturday, except on public holidays. There is a small admission charge, with free entry for children under 5.