Explore the museum collection through gallery talks and guided tours, then visit the hands-on workshop to make your own toy or miniature. From robots to miniature rugs, each week features a new theme. Included with museum admission. Become a member today to enjoy all ten weeks for free! Recommended for ages 6 and up. Little Adventures is generously supported by the National Miniatures Trust.

See The Wonderful Wizard of Oz come to life with puppets in a 35-minute performance that is fun for the entire family. Kraig Kensinger, a resident puppeteer at the Puppetry Arts Institute in Independence, Missouri, will present the live show with puppets from longtime museum volunteer Sally Ruddy as well as some of his own design. Included with museum admission. Space is limited. Reserve a spot today by calling (816) 235-8005 or emailing mercierk@toyandminiaturemuseum.org.

Get to know the experts at The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures through this monthly exploration of special topics. On March 12, Lindsay Mican Morgan, keeper of the Thorne Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago, will examine Mrs. Thorne and the role of women artists in the creation of the miniature rooms. Included with museum admission. Space is limited. Reserve a spot today by calling (816) 235-8005 or emailing mercierk@toyandminiaturemuseum.org.

Don’t have a Clue what to do for your next Mystery Date night? Scrabble over to the museum where we have a Monopoly on classic board games, including some from the Land of Oz. At $5 per person for all-you-can-play games, snacks, and hot cocoa, there’s little Risk involved. Please bring friends that are 18+ for this grown-ups only night.

New Date! Join us for a special viewing of Over the Rainbow: Toys from the Land of Oz and a complimentary pancake breakfast with the Good Witch. Enter the merry ‘ol Land of Oz for pancakes from Chris Cakes, sing-alongs, and photo opportunities. Breakfast is available for the number of people in each membership level: two, six, or twelve people per visit. Become a member today for as little as $25 to attend!

In Victorian photographs, children were often posed with their prized toys. During the museum’s day-after-Thanksgiving workshop, bring your favorite toy or choose one from the museum’s education collection to get your snapshot taken and turned into a faux daguerreotype. Then, decorate a case for your new portrait just like those in the temporary exhibit, Forever Young: Victorian Photographs of Children and Their Toys. Included with museum admission.

Before taking a picture was just a click of a button, having a photograph taken was serious business. A portrait was a rare record of not only an individual’s appearance, but their personality and history. Children were posed with their favorite toys giving contemporary viewers a rare glimpse into Victorian childhood. Explore over 100 photographs, including post-mortem portraits, and examples of the toys pictured.

Let the art of imagination inspire you at the museum’s first Write-In: a gathering of people writing together at the same time for fun and productivity. Find a comfy spot in the beautiful Tureman Education Center with your laptop or borrow some paper. Prompts featuring the museum collection and tours at 11am and 2pm can help get the creative juices flowing. Snacks will be provided. Included with museum admission.

Featuring the private collection of noted author, lecturer, and collector Arabella Grayson, explore the 150-year evolution of cultural images of African Americans in paper dolls from Little Black Sambo and Aunt Jemima to Jackie Robinson and Missy Elliott. Photography is not allowed in this exhibit. Learn more in the press kit.

Alan Scott Pate, the leading American authority on Japanese dolls, will give a lecture about the American/Japanese Friendship Doll Exchange of 1927 in conjunction with the museum’s special exhibit, Messengers of Goodwill. After his talk, Pate will answer questions in the exhibit gallery, which features 5 of the original Japanese Friendship Dolls, including the museum’s own Miss Fukushima. Seating is limited. RSVP 816.235.8005 or mercierk@toyandminiaturemuseum.org

Experience America’s obsession with four-wheeled vehicles big and small in an exploration of the history, design, and production of pedaled playthings. From the Garton Kiddilac to the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile, see how suburban kids have rolled in style!

Discover the story of how dolls were used to mend diplomatic relations. Step into 1920s Japan and America to view five of the three-foot-tall friendship doll ambassadors reunited for the first time since 1927.

While the museum was closed for renovations, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art presented a selection of room settings, ceramics, furniture, and silver from T/m’s fine-scale miniature collection. Some of the miniatures featured were replicas of works in the permanent collection of the Nelson-Atkins.

Antiques Roadshow host Mark L. Walberg and appraiser Marshall Martin visited The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures and gave two of our dollhouses their moment in the spotlight. Don’t miss Kansas City, Hour 2 of Antiques Roadshow at 8/7c!