We had expected to spend less than an hour here and spending almost two hours. There is lots so see. We had the Tucson Passport from visittucson.org so we got in 2 for 1. I really enjoyed the dollhouses from other cultures and parts of the world. Don't miss this if you are in town.
Just wish I could have spent four or five hours there instead of 2.5 hours. Workmanship, stories of the miniature dollhouses, and the entire museum a delight. One must visit to enjoy this delightful place. Wonderful for adults and children alike. 5 PLUS STARS!
Wow! This place was unexpectedly interesting. To see the painstaking amount of detail put into each item is impressive. It is a family-friendly attraction, as well as for all ages. I would recommend a visit here.
Thank you so much for your positive and detailed review. We really appreciate when visitors take the time to help us spread the word. We are glad to hear you enjoyed Diamonds Are Forever too!
At first, I was a bit hesitant at going to this museum since I thought it might just be a setting for looking at doll houses. It is much more. They have four display areas; Exploring the World, History Gallery, the APE Suite, and the Enchanted Realm. Sure, there are some very fancy doll houses, but the majority of the exhibits are impressive art creations that portray building structures from all over the world and the way people lived in different periods of time. These miniatures are carefully crafted with a zeal for detail. Most every item is set to scale so that one has the feeling that they are looking into a time capsule. They have a display of miniature silver table settings which has such detail that they are an accurate reproduction of the full size item. Be sure to visit the Magic Theatre which is a good start to set the stage for your visit to the museum. This is where you can see a miniature of a Waterford Crystal goblet created by a retired Waterford craftsman. Some replica dolls are so small that their heads are painted on a a grain of wheat. The displays are presented in a very professional manner. They are interesting even to the most skeptical visitor because the craftsmanship of these miniatures would have required hours of work and devotion.
Adults will marvel at the detail and skill invested in these miniature scenes and houses. From centuries old European to modern day world wide creations you'll see cultural and global accurate representations of life. Well documented and explained the variety is wonderful. We were a bit disappointed in the "Enchanted World" exhibit as it was more collection of mass produced things rather than hand made artistry. Plan lots of time, minimum 2 hours at a fast pace, we were there 3. My guess is girls will like this more than boys but if you have model makers, the boys will get into it as well.
Give yourself 2 hours at least. We like to look at everything when in a museum and we spent 2 1/2 hours there. We started getting overwhelmed at all the detail. The craftmanship is mind boggling. Very well displayed and somehow they keep the glass free of finger and nose prints. Definitely worth a stop even if miniatures aren't your thing. Buy a Tucson Passport and you get 2-for-1 admission.
This affordable, simple museum is filled with little wonders. We came for a field trip, so I had my four kids ages 2 - 8. Nobody barked at me when my kids were being kids (a common occurrence at other museums), so that was nice. (Kids still are discouraged from climbing and touching.) My kids loved the tree withe the hiding fairy. There are some really extraordinary miniatures here! We were in and out in an hour, which is perfect.
There are places you visit that will always be among the first you mention to friends. The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is incredible in its focus. The detail work on these displays never fails to amaze you. These are more than dollhouses. They are every bit works of art as a pencil sketch that looks so real you believe you are seeing a photograph. Houses, stores, shops and mansions visible from one, two, three or four sides show detailed activity of their occupants. The videos showing how the scale model sets of silverware are created add to the experience. Don't overlook this gem while visiting in Tucson.
You could spend hours there! There is something for everyone! There are historical homes, opulent homes, fantasy places, stores of all kinds, etc. They are all miniature & there are so many details!! You will be amazed that anyone could have put these houses together! I loved all the funny touches, such as animals creating mischief in some of the houses. The last display room, is the one that I think children will love the most. There is a big tree with miniature fantasy scenes in windowed nooks in the tree.