We describe it as a 'talking' museum as there are lots of things to look at and discuss. As such, we recommend it for children five and older.

Everyone who ever was a kid or still has part of one on the inside. With a huge collection of toys, ranging from dolls and dollhouses, to trains and tin soldiers, there's something for everybody at the museum.

Our miniature collection features exact replicas of things you'd find in everyday life on a scale that is one inch to the foot. This means that they are 1/12th the normal size! What makes our collection contemporary is the fact that most of the pieces have been made in the last 50 years by artists who are still alive today.

We have lots to see! It can take visitors anywhere from one to three hours to view our collections. We usually advise visitors to allow at least an hour for a self-guided tour.

The easiest way to visit is by having a membership that grants unlimited visits and many special perks. Drop in anytime: Adults: $7, Seniors and Students: $6, Children (5-12): $5. Programs and special events may have varied and individual charges, please check in advance. The museum accepts printed checks with proper identification, MasterCard and Visa.

Yes. We accept printed checks with proper identification, MasterCard and Visa.

We would appreciate you scheduling a group tour no less than two weeks in advance.

Yes, the museum parking lot is in front of our building. It is free for museum visitors.

The museum does not allow photography for a number of reasons, but our primary concern is the potential damage it does to our collections.

This depends on the availability of the museum and staff to support the event. If you are interested in talking with someone about booking a private event at the museum, please contact our Operations Manager, Sandi Russell.

Yes. 98 percent of the museum is wheelchair accessible. We have one small exhibit room that can only be entered by going down several stairs. We have an elevator to get to the second floor.

The museum does not offer food service of any type. However, due to our close proximity to Brookside and the Plaza, there are a number of eating establishments close by. If you want to break for lunch and then come back to the museum, by all means do so! If you need a lunch recommendation, stop by at the front desk and we'll provide you with some options and directions.

The Toy & Miniature Museum is a private museum, supported entirely by funds received through admissions, membership, special event ticket sales, museum store revenue, contributions, and an endowment.

It's true that Nelly Don and The Toy & Miniature Museum are linked. The Tureman Mansion, the original museum building, was occupied for a short while by Nelly Don. In fact she was kidnapped from the house's original driveway! However, Nelly Don never owned the Tureman Mansion. It was owned by the Tureman family until it was bequeathed to UMKC in the 1960s.

The real answer to that question is priceless! Museums make it a practice of not discussing the value of individual objects or their collections as a whole. Most museums have objects that range in value from ordinary to priceless.

The Museum’s Board has placed a moratorium on donations to the collection and we are not reviewing items at this time. The collections staff is currently engaged in completing a wall to wall inventory of our existing collection. With thousands of objects exhibited and in storage, the task is a large one. We appreciate your patience with us while we tackle this project! We anticipate resuming our review of potential donations to the collection in January, 2012. At that time, you can follow the process detailed below. Thank you!

There are many reasons you may want to donate objects. Most people place an importance on the objects they donate and want them preserved for the education of future generations. Some factors to consider when thinking of donating objects:

• You must hold clear title to the object. If someone can dispute your ownership, they can dispute your right to donate the object.
• The museum will not accept donations with restrictions placed on them, such as the item must always be exhibited or the museum must accept another object as well.
• The museum practices selective acquisition. This means we accept only those objects that fit our mission, are in good condition, have potential for exhibition or research and that we can take care of.

All potential donations are reviewed by a collections committee before being accepted into the museum collection.

Other places to contact concerning an object donation:

Toys:
United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC), Kansas City, MO
Puppetry Arts Institute, Independence, MO
Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys, Denver, CO

Miniatures:
International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA,)Freedom, CA (Contact: Lori Ben-Dov (lbendov@msn.com)
National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts (NAME), Carmel, IN

Unfortunately the museum cannot appraise your object. Price guides and online auctions may provide an estimated value, but only a certified appraiser can document an object's value for insurance or sale purposes.

Anyone interested in employment with the museum should check for job postings at www.umkc.edu. All open positions will be listed there and interested applicants should apply through the UMKC HR Web site.

To educate, inspire and delight adults and children through the Museum's collection and preservation of toys and miniatures.