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December 20, 2021

The Long-Lasting Appeal of Betsy McCall

By Silvia Arellano Fernández, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art In May of 1951, McCall’s Magazine first introduced Betsy McCall the must-have paper doll of her time, created by staff illustrator...
t/m store front

March 10, 2022

Planning a Safe Visit to T/m

Effective immediately, T/m is no longer requiring guests to wear masks while visiting the museum. Unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear masks. We are continually reassessing our visitor guidelines...

February 28, 2022

Meet Baby Whitney!

Baby Whitney was the brainchild of Melvin and Loretta Whitfield, who developed the doll in the mid-1980s in response to their frustration in not being able to find dolls that...

February 21, 2022

Barbie’s Kitchen of the Future

By Jennifer White In the early 1970’s, Mattel released the Karosel Kitchen, a play structure for Barbie or other similarly sized dolls.  This popular toy featured brightly colored cabinets and...

December 20, 2021

T/m2Go: Glass Minis

Fine-scale miniature glass artists use incredible techniques to create tiny sparkling works of art!  In this T/m2Go video, explore some of the glittering glass minis in the museum’s collection and...

November 29, 2021

Holiday Toy: The Dreidel

Looking for a fun seasonal holiday-related toy to take for a spin? Look no further than the Dreidel! This spinning top game is played during the Jewish Festival of Lights...
2021 Philly Award trophy

November 9, 2021

T/m wins Gold at 2021 Philly Awards

Museum recognized for 2020 website re-launch KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (T/m) won an Award of Distinction tonight at the 2021 Philly Awards for...
Watering Can

October 27, 2021

T/m2Go: Grand Gardens

Many fine-scale miniature artists are inspired by the beauty and variety of the natural world around us. In this T/m2Go video, explore some of the nature-inspired minis in the museum’s...
Homeschool Month group_2020

September 29, 2021

T/m announces second annual Homeschool Month at museum

Homeschoolers can take part in special activity; chaperones get free admission KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (T/m), together with collaborating partners Kansas City Public...

September 15, 2021

Online Scavenger Hunt: Home Again

Journey A. Goodmouse is at it one more time! Read about Journey’s adventures in the journal below, then click HERE to create your very own mini book. Answers to the...
Azhelle Wade

August 31, 2021

Upcoming Meet the Experts features toy coach Azhelle Wade

Award-winning entrepreneur, inventor talks toys during virtual event KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Entrepreneur, toy inventor and cancer survivor Azhelle Wade, who has been named on three United States patents during...
Cabbage Patch Dolls

August 30, 2021

T/m2Go: Just Like Me!

Baby dolls are long-time favorites that steal our hearts. In this T/m2Go video, learn about some of the ways toymakers have created baby dolls to be more realistic. After you...

August 24, 2021

A Barbie Mansion for Magical Keisha Clay

In 2020, T/m received a very special dollhouse donation: the 1990 Barbie Magical Mansion that belonged to Keisha Clay of Kansas City. The advertisement from that year promised a house, “Big...

July 9, 2021

T/m Preparing Resumption of Full Operating Schedule

Museum will return Sundays, Mondays to public openings this summer KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (T/m) announced today that preparations are underway to resume...
Journey in Breakfast_Room

July 2, 2021

Online MINI Scavenger Hunt

Journey A. Goodmouse is at it again! Read about Journey’s adventures in the journal below, then click HERE to take the latest online scavenger hunt through the museum’s MINI collection....
Nintendo Entertainment System

June 29, 2021

T/m2Go: Video Games

Video games take our imaginations to other worlds. In this episode of T/m2Go, travel through the history of video games to uncover the STEM skills these technological toys can teach....
STEM exhibit entrance wall

June 28, 2021

Bridging the Gender Divide wins 2021 AASLH Award of Excellence

T/m exhibit recognized for achievement in interpretation KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has announced that The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures...
STEM: Bridging the gender divide logo

May 11, 2021

T/m explores impact of STEM toys with Kansas City professionals

Virtual event Meet the Experts: Women in STEM set for May 16 (KANSAS CITY, Mo.) – The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (T/m) will explore the impact of STEM...

May 1, 2021

Celebrating life, legacy of Barbara Marshall

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (T/m) remembers the life and legacy of Barbara Marshall, the museum’s co-founder and a great patron of fine-scale miniature...
Amazing Women in STEM

April 16, 2021

T/m2Go: Amazing Women In Stem

This edition of T/m2Go highlights four of the amazing women in STEM featured in the Bridging the Gender Divide: Toys That Build STEM Skills exhibit. Learn about these STEM role...

April 15, 2021

Online TOY Scavenger Hunt

Meet our friend Journey A. Goodmouse! Read about Journey’s adventures in the journal below, then click HERE to take the online scavenger hunt through the museum’s TOY collection. Journey’s adventure...

April 8, 2021

T/m selected to participate in National Museum Assessment Program

(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) – The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (T/m) has been selected to participate in the Museum Assessment Program (MAP), which is administered by the American Alliance...

April 7, 2021

Nell Corkin to appear on next episode of What’s On Your Workbench

Miniature artist takes viewers inside studio April 7, 2021 (KANSAS CITY, Mo.) – Renowned fine-scale miniature artist Nell Corkin will be the featured guest on the upcoming episode of The...

March 5, 2021

Duffy named Senior Manager of Development

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (T/m) announced today the hiring of Brenna Duffy as the museum’s Senior Manager of Development. Her first day at the museum will be...

March 1, 2021

T/m2Go: STEM Toys Are For Everyone

Originally marketed primarily to boys, STEM toys are now created for all kids. Explore how these toys have changed over the years and hear from a few friends at Kansas...
A Dinosaur Christmas

December 22, 2020

T/m2Go: A Dinosaur Christmas

What happens when Evergreen the dinosaur writes a letter to Santa? Watch this shadow puppet video of A Dinosaur Christmas, then download the instructions to create your own dinosaur kaleidoscope. Don’t...
Bowl image

December 4, 2020

Gallery Talk: Barber Bowl

Explore one of the museum’s most asked-about collection objects. T/m’s Hannah Bernardini is inside the French Gallery where she shares one of the museum’s most frequently asked about objects, the...

November 26, 2020

T/m2Go: The Princess and the Bear

Watch the video, then download the activity instructions. Tehreem Chaudhry performs her original toy theater play, The Princess and the Bear.
Shadow Puppet Theater Kit

November 23, 2020

Take-Home Puppet Theater Kit

Be the star of the stage at home this Thanksgiving! Visit T/m on Wednesday, Nov. 25 and purchase a take-home shadow puppet theater kit for just $5 at the Visitor Services...

November 20, 2020

T/m Closed to Public Nov. 27-28

Due to the significant increase in COVID-19 cases throughout our region, The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures will be closed to the public on Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday,...
R2D2

November 14, 2020

The History of Toys

Take a trip through toy time.

November 11, 2020

Gallery Talk: French Commode

A 1:12 scale replica of a cabinet owned by Louis XV’s mistress.
little boy looking at toys

August 17, 2020

T/m2Go: Superheroes

Watch the video, then download the activity instructions.
Zoetrope

August 10, 2020

T/m2Go: Optical Toys

Watch the video, then download the activity instructions.
sewing casket

August 3, 2020

T/m2Go: Tiny Textiles

Watch the video, then download the activity instructions.
Frazier Dollhouse

July 27, 2020

T/m2Go: Dollhouse Stories

Watch the video below, then download the activity instructions.
Harpsicord_w_Ruler

July 20, 2020

T/m2Go: Mini Music

Watch the video, then download the activity instructions.
Art Deco Chandelier

July 13, 2020

T/m2Go: Little Lights

Watch the video, then download the activity instructions.
Raggedy-Ann

July 6, 2020

T/m2Go: Stuffed Toys

Watch the video, then download the activity instructions.
train

June 29, 2020

T/m2Go: Transportation Toys

Watch the video, then download the activity instructions.
WonderWoman_front

June 22, 2020

T/m2Go: Comic Characters

Watch the video, then download the activity instructions.
LEGO box

June 15, 2020

T/m2Go: Budding Builders

Watch the video, then download the activity instructions.

June 1, 2020

Artist Profile: Master Glassblower Francis D. Whittemore, Jr.

By Laura S. Taylor, Curator of Interpretation One of the most striking comparisons of scale on exhibit at T/m is this full-size cranberry goblet alongside three shelves of 1:12 scale...
Nettie Wells dollhouse

May 29, 2020

The Nettie Wells Dollhouse

This time capsule full of handmade treasures provides unique insight into the influences and values that shaped girlhood in Kansas City in the 19th century.

May 6, 2020

Secondary Spaces

By Laura S. Taylor, Curator of Interpretation One of the most intriguing aspects of fine-scale miniatures is the secondary spaces that can be glimpsed through those tiny windows and doors....

March 19, 2020

The Obadiah Collection

By Laura Taylor, Curator of Interpretation In one of the largest cities in the world, Obadiah Fisher (1941-2005) made a name for himself by creating tiny art. Working in his...

January 31, 2020

Dollhouse Histories: The Pierce Dollhouse, 1868

By Laura Taylor, T/m Curator of Interpretation, with assistance from MaryJean Allen Children’s dollhouses were a weakness for T/m co-founder Mary Harris Francis. She acquired her first, the New Rochelle...

May 3, 2019

Toy Stitchers: A Passion for Toy Sewing Machines of Bygone Days

Long before today’s world of online ordering, children anxiously awaited the delivery of mail order catalogs. When they finally arrived, the toy section was excitedly scrutinized for the birthday or...

March 26, 2019

New Acquisitions of Fine-Scale Miniatures

Did you ever wonder how T/m has built such an amazing collection of fine-scale miniatures? Barbara Marshall, the museum’s co-founder started collecting miniatures in the 1950s with a 1:12 scale...

February 18, 2019

The Doll Gallery

This month, we made some big changes to The Doll Gallery. Some old favorites have gone to storage for a time so that they can be protected from light, which...
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