What's in our collection?
The Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys (DMMDT) has been part of the Denver community since 1981 and has been the trusted repository for Denver’s childhood ever since. For the last 35 years the Museum has been curating a collection that is culturally important not just to Colorado but the World. The Museum houses everything from the O’Meara Someday House to the rare Japanese Friendship Doll, Miss Yokohama and continues to make significant accessions that will enhance the quality and depth of the permanent collection. The Museum’s permanent collection is actually made up of three different collections; miniatures, dolls and toys. Each collection is significant in its own way but together they are capable of telling a unique story unlike any other Museum can.
The miniature collection boasts pieces from world-renowned artisan miniatures that are made from everything from wood and ivory to silver and gold. Many artists featured in our miniature collection are International Guild of Miniature Artisans (I.G.M.A.) Fellows, including Mary McGrath, Pete Acquisto, Sue Resseguie, Noel Thomas and Pat Thomas. Others, like Andrea M. Fabrega, Marjorie Smelt and Bear Limvere are I.G.M.A. Artisans, all of whom are known internationally for their unique take on miniatures. They have also supported DMMDT in various endeavors over the years.
Miss Yokohama
Colorado's Japanese Friendship Doll
The treasure of the doll collection is Miss Yokohama. Miss Yokohama is Colorado's Japanese Friendship Doll. She was created around 1927 and represents the city of Yokohama, Japan. She is 81cm high, has human hair, and inset glass eyes. She was one of only 7 of the original 58 friendship dolls to be created by the Ohki Heizo (Maruhei) Doll Company in Kyoto. Miss Yokohama was on display at the Denver Public Library for many years. Visitors were allowed to dress and undress her. By the 1990s she was in desperate need of repair. A local doll club organized to send her back to Japan to be restored. When she came back to Colorado, she was entrusted to DMMDT.
The toy collection evokes the strongest memories for our guests. With toys spanning from the late 19th century through the 21st it is sure to have something for everyone. Our toy collection holds handmade Depression era toys as well as the ever popular 8 bit Nintendo. This collection does an excellent job of showing how our culture has evolved over the past 100 years. Everything from changing gender roles to the advent of television can be shown using objects in the collection.
Important Collection Information
The Museum is currently going through a transition as we come out of COVID restriction and work to raise funds for expansion into our new building. The Museum receives over 500 object donation offers a week therefore cannot accept all donations. If you wish for the Museum to consider your donation, please follow the email instructions below and send detailed descriptions and pictures. Items brought in without an appointment or left at our door cannot be accepted. At this time it would be irresponsible of us to accept new objects without being 100% certain of where we will house them. If you are willing to hold onto your donation for at least 12 months we will likely be opening up donations in 2022.
The best way to ensure we can care for your items, as well as the 20,000 we currently have, is to help with our capital campaign. Our capital campaign is currently underway with 100% commitment from the Board of Directors. We have hired a professional fundraiser to work with our site committee and are working diligently to find a suitable location. We encourage you to take part in this campaign so that we can continue to care for our unique collection in a new location. If you have questions about the capital campaign or a general museum question, please contact Wendy Littlepage, Museum Director.
In order to determine if objects may be added to the collection, staff asks that you email a detailed description of the objects, including dimensions and condition and, if possible, photos. We need this information to determine if it belongs in our collection. Objects that are considered for the collection must be approved by the staff, reviewed by a committee who works with the collection and approved by the Board of Directors. Photos make this process much easier. Due to the volume of donation offers we receive, this can be a long process.
Our collections policy is available upon request. Please do not show up with your items. Staff may not be available to meet. We ask that you make an appointment directly with staff before bringing any objects to the Museum.
Objects Donation Parameters:
Given the limited amount of space at the museum and few avenues for selling items that have been donated for fundraising purposes we do not accept all types of donations for the collection or for fundraising.
We are actively looking for:
Pieces with a Colorado connection
High end artisan dollhouse miniatures
We do not accept items such as:
Dollhouse/doll magazines
Collectible figurines
Items that show any signs of insect, animal, or mold damage
International travel dolls
Madame Alexander dolls later than 1960
Nancy Anne Storybook dolls
McDonald's/Fast Food Promotion Toys
Fisher Price Toys
Board Games
WWI Toy Soldiers
Toy sewing machines
Tin mid-century dollhouses
Renwal and Plasco furniture
View Masters
Teddy Bears that do not have a Colorado connection
Beany Babies
We accept limited quantities of:
Unfinished dollhouses
dollhouse/doll making supplies
Finished artisan dollhouses
Antique dollhouses (over 100 years old)
American Girl Dolls
Early digital toys
Action figures and Transformers
Due to the space and staffing constraints, we are only able to take a limited number of objects. We know that your doll, toy and miniature has a unique story and is a special piece, but we simply do not have the resources to accept everything.
For questions regarding the collection, please contact us.
A Peek into the Collection
