American Doll and Toy Museum: The Dolls are Moving soon to their Forever Home!

Saturday, June 20, 2020

The Dolls are Moving soon to their Forever Home!

It’s happening; the citizens of American Doll & Toy Museum are moving to their permanent home around late July 2020! They’ve traveled a life time, but are getting ready for the journey to the former 30/31 library building.

Rock Island Library Plan Includes 30/31 Branch Closure | WVIK

Via WVIK

When I was little, I would ride my bike to this branch library. There was a soda machine, a popular draw, and it was across from my grade school, and later, my church. My best friend lived down street, too. As they say, location! Location! Location! We had a great time. Both of us loved to read, and it was a great place to also see friends and neighbors.

During the summer, my mom and I were frequent visitors, checking out lots of books to read. I looked up all kinds of books on dolls, dinosaurs, and Joan of Arc.

Shelves in our new Museum

One of the rooms in our new Museum

Main floor of the new Museum with shelves and study stations

Places for sitting and reading, as well as observing dolls

Room for programs and special events

More Shelves

Doors and safety

Little Kitchen

Panorama view of floor

We always washed off the plastic book covers with a paper towel slightly damp with soap and water. We were ahead of our time.

My husband grew up nearby, and he also loved going to the library. We could walk or ride bikes; it was a kid’s destination.

Today, American Doll & Toy Museum hopes to become a kid’s destination, again, for kids from 1 to 100! We will also have books, including some of my beloved law books, formerly in our county law library. Of course, I’ll have books and magazines on dolls, fiction and non fiction, as well as art books, craft books, books on countries and cultures where the dolls originate and more.

Miss Revlon and similar dolls

International dolls including Small World India in front of one of our houses

Celebrity dolls and toys

Micro-mini dolls under dome, a sushi dinner, more International, Barbie, and celebrity dolls

17th c. Historical doll, Scarlett, and more historical and celebrity dolls.
17th c. Doll by Marin of Spain,. formerly in Boca Raton
Children's Museum.

Georgie Fay, from Mikki Brantley, Ashton Drake Artist.

One of our costumes

Minis, vintage tins, dolls from 20s to present in case behind

Robot with doll house

Father Tuck Paper Dolls

Vintage artist African American Doll

Vintage felt artist doll

Dolls being packed

While the books are not for check out, patrons can stay and read, and use the books on the premises as long as they like. All for a very low admission price, with discounts for kids and seniors, and special days for Vets.

There will be days when admission will also be free, and programs that will benefit other non profits in our community.

Colleen Moore is not for sale, but the paper airplanes are

One of our board games

With love from Tin Lizzie; one of our metal heads

Artist dolls and modern bisques

Present location with patriotic window

Francesca and friends

For sale in our gift shop; see Dr. Es Toy Museum on Etsy.com

Our gift shop will also expand, with craft kits, books, doll related items, vintage jewelry, vintage toys, and more.

So, the antique dolls are packing their bags, including the china heads and antique bisques, the action figures and heroes are taking flight, Barbie is finding space for her dream house, and the toy soldiers are forming battalions.

Raggedy Ann, Shirley Temple, Patsy, Tammy, Wendykins, Cissy, Jill and Ginny, G.I. Joe, Skippy, all the Ancient dolls, the International dolls, bears and stuffed animals are packing their bags. Edith the Lonely doll arrived just in time for the move, and our French Fashion girls are gathering their trousseaux.

Our paper dolls, books, old cases, and doll clothes, our board games, marbles, jacks, model ships and paper airplanes are all getting ready to go.

We will miss our current location, and our dear friends in the neighborhood, but we are just up the street, and can do more for our community in this larger space. We hope to continue to be part of the College Hill Association, too.

We’ll be open till July 1, by chance or appointment. Please pardon are dust, as I continue to organize and to pack. Call 309-721-9882 for an appointment. Until we move, admission is discounted to $1 or free will donation.