More Photos from The Great American Dollhouse Museum

Here are the final photos from our visit to The Great American Dollhouse Museum. There would have been more, but the challenge of reflections on the Plexiglass cases made it impossible to get good photos of other displays. What you're seeing are snippets of the museum's holdings. Even if you could see photos of all of the displays, you still won't be able to grasp the amazing sights. You really must go visit!

You may have noticed the numerous dolls in various settings. Several hundred of them were made especially for the museum by Nicola Cooper, a sculptor and dollmaker from Dunstable, England. You can see her website here. She says on her website that she has sculpted more than 2000 dolls in the past ten years -- and no two are alike! Other dolls are antique bisques and porcelains, as well as vintage and imported dolls from many nations.

The Mexican market and restaurant are vivid with color.

This is Mansion Row, and mansions they are! The gazebo in the center will become a flower shop. Do you recognize the work of Lady Jane (Linda Young)? Click here to visit her website.

A beauty on Mansion Row. Look at the tinker's wagon in front. I can recall when the tinker came around our neighborhood looking to repair pots, sharpen knives, and so on. Does that date me, or what? This tinker appears to have many household goods for sale, too.

There are vernacular houses on the other side of the tracks.

I didn't catch a photo of the entrance to Copper Hollow, but this is the exit to Fantasy Forest, complete with warnings of dangers ahead.

In the Fantasy Forest is Poppy's Cottage at Lessor Dixter by Melissa Chaple of The Enchanted Woodland Faery Dollhouse Co. It is rough wood, bark, moss, and embellished with hand-dyed silks, crystals, and antique brasses. Reflections kept me from getting a good shot of the whole house, but these details give the flavor. Don't forget to poke the photos to see larger images. Click here to visit her website and here for more photos of this cottage.

Above the Fantasy Forest is a viewing platform. The view from there gives an idea of the expanse of the exhibits. The museum is housed in a 1939 Works Progress Administration (WPA) building.

There is a 19th century factory row on the other side of the tracks.

This wizard lives in the Fantasy Forest.

The troll's bakery was designed and executed by Hanna Kagan-Moore, daughter of the museum owners.

That's all of the photos from this trip. I hope we get to go back soon to see what's new!

More from The Great American Dollhouse Museum

More photos, as promised. The museum layout includes a timeline of American history as well as Copper Town (both sides of the tracks) and an enchanted forest. There's no set way to go through it. One just wanders, as one might when exploring a new town in real life. There is a map on the museum website. The layout is evolving and isn't quite like the map, but it will give you an idea of the various sections.
.
The first photo shows a doctor's office on the "other side of the tracks". Also on the other side of the tracks is a boarding house. A mother tucks her child into bed before heading off to her job in a factory. She admonished the child to be very quiet so as not to attract the attention of the landlady, as the rent is overdue.

Interior of a house in the part of town with comfy homes. Wish I could recall which one it is. Poke the picture for a really good look at some wonderfully detailed furnishings.

A scene in the park.

A gypsy wagon in the park.

Another park view.

A boys' prep school.

A general view of the displays. To the left, the city park. On the right, a block of elegant homes.

A modern house in the American history timeline. There's a lot to see here. A nanny is trying to control some unruly children who have left messes throughout the house.

A lovely deck beside the modern house.

A glitzy room box with a mirrored background.

One of four Brooke Tucker room boxes in the museum.

The other Brook Tucker room box. What a great way to give a scene a sense of place: the photo mural on the back walls.

That's all for now. Another round of photos in the next post.

Quilts at the Great American Dollhouse Museum

Last week we traveled, and in our travels we spent nearly a whole day at The Great American Dollhouse Museum in Danville, Kentucky (about 20 miles south of Lexington). It was such a treat to visit with the gracious owner, Lori Kagan-Moore, and some of her family. The museum was featured recently on a local TV station and can be seen on YouTube. Lori permits photos in the museum, and I took several, although reflections were a challenge. I'm posting four of them here -- all of quilts, since that is my current focus. More to come, I promise! Poke the photos for a larger view.

Although the clothing isn't quite right, I think this scene was in the Shaker Village.

There are two quilts in the photo, one fabric print folded on the floor and one stitched on the bed. This house boasted a beautiful rug in every room. I wish I could remember more about the house. After exposure to hundreds of houses and thousands of beautiful rooms, my memory box overflowed! Here is a pieced and printed quilt. Can't recall which house this was.

The next scene is from a series depicting the days of the underground railroad. The little girl is telling the runaway under the bed to keep still, as the authorities have come to the house. The quilt appears to be printed fabric with stitch marks added with ink.

More about The Great American Dollhouse Museum when we get unpacked and sorted out!