The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (T/m) has named Melissa Golding its new Director of Visitor Services. Golding begins November 9, 2026, and will lead the Museum’s visitor experience, including admissions, the Museum Store, and the front-of-house team.
Golding joins T/m from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, where she spent 18 years, most recently as Senior Supervisor of Guest Services and Box Office. She previously served as Manager of Ticketing and CRM, where she led a major system upgrade and rollout, trained the staff who relied on it, and, as Supervisor of Guest Services, oversaw a large team of staff and volunteers.
“Melissa brings phenomenal operational and systems expertise, a steady hand with teams, and a commitment to the visitor experience,” said Patricia Cecil, Executive Director of T/m. “She is the right leader to build a visitor services department that matches the quality of our collections as we prepare for a landmark 2027.”
“I’m excited to join The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures as Director of Visitor Services. As a former art student, I often visited T/m for inspiration, making it especially meaningful to return in this new role.” Said Golding. “I believe Visitor Services is about more than welcoming guests; it’s about being an ambassador for the entire city.”
Golding joins Kody McLain, who begins November 2 as Director of Curatorial Affairs. Both arrive as T/m prepares to open the redesigned Native Peoples Gallery, Saturday Morning Cartoons, and a 50-year retrospective of fine-scale miniature artist William R. Robertson, all in 2027.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF TOYS AND MINIATURES
The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures educates, inspires, and delights people of all ages by collecting, displaying, and interpreting toys and miniatures that illuminate diverse narratives and cultural heritage. Located on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus, the Museum exhibits the world’s largest collection of fine-scale miniatures and one of the nation’s largest collections of historically significant toys on public display. For more information, call 816.235.8000 or visit www.toyandminiaturemuseum.org.
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