Toy and Miniature Museum

I had driven by the Toy and Miniature Museum many times during my graduate studies at UMKC but had never been. I decided it was time to stop driving by and finally go inside after learning they are hosting an American Girl Doll exhibit. My oldest daughter, Victoria, has their Bitty Baby and Kit dolls, so she was excited to go with me to see the American Girls.

            For those unfamiliar with the American Girl Collection, it’s a set of dolls and books that help younger girls of today imagine what life was like in the past. The historically accurate dolls are hugely popular with today’s American girls and have been called “the biggest craze since Barbie”. This original exhibit at the Toy and Miniature Museum helps the Museum celebrate its 25^th anniversary. The display features dolls from the American Girl collection along with toys from each of the different time periods represented by the dolls. Next to the dolls are miniature rooms that depict how each American Girl Doll’s home may have looked. A time line that highlights real life American women who have made a difference runs along the back wall. Accompanying the exhibit is a collection of essays submitted for a contest sponsored by the Museum. The essays are entitled “What Does it Mean to be an American Girl?” and there were nearly 300 entries!

            A gallery guide is available for purchase in the gift shop for $2.00. The guide is a wonderful companion to your American Girl Doll visit and also has some great follow up activities that can be done at home. I highly recommend the guide to help you get the most out of your trip. I also encourage you to make the most of the many docents at the Museum. All that we met were very friendly and extremely knowledgeable.

            After viewing the American Girl Doll exhibit we spent some time walking through the Museum and looking at some of the many other exhibits. Victoria enjoyed seeing the dollhouses and I really enjoyed the marble collection. Victoria is six and it was a little hard for her to follow the “Don’t Touch” policy typical of any museum but for the most part she did a fine job. My two-year-old, Allison, would have had an extremely hard time keeping her hands off of the amazing toys and dolls so I was thankful she was able to stay home and spend the morning with Dad.

Margaret and her husband live in Lenexa with their two daughters and are up to their ears in doll accessories at any given moment!