Established | 1955 |
---|---|
Location | Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland |
Type | Toy |
Collection size | 60,000 |
Visitors | 225,000 (2017) |
Founder | Patrick Murray |
Owner | City of Edinburgh Council |
Website | Official website |
The Museum of Childhood is a museum that houses a collection of children's toys and playthings, situated on the Royal Mile, in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the first museum in the world to specialise in the history of childhood. [1] Admission to the museum is free. It is run and owned by City of Edinburgh Council. [2]
The collection was originally the work of Patrick Murray (1908–1981), an Edinburgh Councillor and passionate collector of toys and childhood memorabilia. [3] The museum first opened to the public in 1955. In 1957, it moved to its present home on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, in what was formerly the Salvation Army's hall. [4] [5] In 1986, the museum expanded into neighbouring properties to expand the floor and display space. [5]
In 2017, the museum underwent a major refurbishment, including the installation of new display cabinets and lighting for exhibits. The refurbishment also saw the installation of a new digital photo gallery, which offers a look at the changing way children grew up across the 20th century. [5] [1] In 2017, it was estimated that the museum had around 225,000 visitors per year. [5]
The museum's collection includes around 60,000 objects, from the 18th to the 21st century. [3] [5] Highlight items include a teddy bear brought to the UK by a child on the Kindertransport , a dollhouse with working lighting and plumbing systems, and a Queen Anne doll from 1740. [2] The collection also includes one of the Scottish Government's baby boxes, a maternity package offered to all new parents in Scotland. [6]
The museum has a number of interactive spaces to encourage play amongst younger visitors. [2]
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