5 Largest Toy Museums in the World

Even for those of us who have grown up and joined the adult world, toys can hold special places in our hearts. Some vintage models might remind us of toys that we played with ourselves as children, while more modern toys can offer an experience so fresh and exciting that they make us feel like kids all over again.

Whether you enjoy looking through the history of toys and miniatures, or simply want to lose yourself in a vast collection, these toy museums are sure to show you a great time! Let’s learn about 5 of the largest toy museums in the world, and learn what sets each one apart.

5. Brighton Toy and Model Museum

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Featuring truly magnificent antique toys and priceless model train collections displayed on fully functioning model railways, the Brighton Toy and Model Museum offers visitors the experience of a lifetime. The museum also displays models and toys from famous brands such as Dinky, Pelham Puppets, and Steiff. The museum’s architecture in itself is noteworthy, showcasing four Victorian archways beneath the Brighton Railway Station.

Did You Know?

Some of the model trains at the Brighton Toy and Model Museum are surprisingly far on in their years–some of them date as far back as the 1860’s!

4. National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

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While it isn’t ranked as the largest toy museum worldwide, the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures is touted as the largest collection of fine-scale miniatures. The establishment originally opened as the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City, featuring the personal collections of Mary Harris Francis and Barbara Marshall, and later reopened in 2015 under its current name. The museum now features one of the nation’s largest collections of antique toys, featuring vintage dollhouses and tin toys. The miniatures in this museum are famous for their exquisite level of fine detail!

Did You Know?

When the museum first opened in 1982, it was based out of an old mansion on the Kansas City campus of the University of Missouri.

3. Penang Toy Museum

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This unique toy museum was founded by engineer Loh Lean Cheng, who felt inspired after his visit to the London Toy and Model Museum. Documented in the Malaysia Book of Records as its largest toy museum, as well as the first of its kind in Malaysia, the Penang Toy Museum welcomes approximately 100,000 visitors each year. The museum has advertised itself as the largest toy museum in the world, but that status remains unverified.

Did You Know?

The Penang Toy Museum is organized into themed sections such as the Chamber of Horror, Hall of Cartoons, and the Chamber of Comic Book Heroes. The sizes of the toys and figurines on display range from miniature to life-size.

2. The Strong National Museum of Play

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In the beginning, The Strong National Museum of Play featured the personal collection of its founder, Margaret Woodbury Strong. Now, it offers everything from vintage paper dolls to Pacman exhibits! The Strong is also home to the National Toy Hall of Fame and the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Cited as the world’s most comprehensive collection of historical and modern materials related to playing, this museum strives to present visitors with a journey through the history of playtime.

Did You Know?

The Strong displays some unique toy heritage items, such as the very first Barbie Doll and an original Monopoly game from 1933.

1. World’s Largest Toy Museum Complex

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The World’s Largest Toy Museum Complex in Branson, Missouri is the largest toy museum in the world. Don’t be fooled by the word “Complex” in the name–while this complex features an assortment of 6 different museums, the toy museum by itself still qualifies at the world’s largest. When visitors purchase a ticket to the World’s Largest Toy Museum Complex, they gain admission to all 6 museums, including the Harold Bell Wright Museum.

Did You Know?

Harold Bell Wright’s book, “The Shepherd of the Hills,” drew a lot of attention and tourism to the area, helping the toy museum gain a lot of additional traffic.