Opened on September 1st in 2009, this unique Tucson attraction is the labor of love of Patricia and Walter Arnell. From a young age Patricia had a fondness for miniatures, and when she and her husband moved to Tucson in 1979 she began collecting in earnest. She often joked that her hobby “got a little out of hand,” but she and Walter both loved sharing their collection with others. Together the Arnell's built and curated an interactive space where the collection could be displayed and enjoyed by all. Though the founders of since passed, the museum hopes that continue their mission to foster the artistry and real-world application of miniatures. As a part of their mission, the museum hosts various educational events that allow participants to become the artisans and hopefully become miniature enthusiasts themselves.
The museum is a newer addition to the community but it's a fresh addition to a charming city. Tucson shows support for the arts throughout the town as expressed in its architecture and culture. The museum actively participates in the community through education and boasts an amazing amount of resources to make their exhibits accessible to everyone. The state-of-the-art modern facility is a giant among the miniature community, and it will be interesting to see how this novelty will influence the community in years to come.
Read a short article about the history of miniatures, by Walter Arnell himself: https://miniatures.org/ArtOfMiniatures_WalterArnell
Information
http://www.theminitimemachine.org
Hours & LocationMuseum Hours: Tuesday–Sunday from 9am–4pm Closed Mondays The museum will be closed on the 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. We will close at 12pm New Year's Eve and be closed on New Year's Day. Located At: 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive Tucson, AZ 85712 |
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Admission & Tickets
Adults (ages 18-62) = $15 Museums for All (in-person purchase only): present your SNAP, EBT, or WIC card to receive a reduced admission rate ($3/person, valid for up to 6 tickets per visit - cannot be redeemed online) Note: Admission is Scheduled. Select your time slot (Morning or Afternoon) to proceed to checkout. *LAST GENERAL ADMISSION IS AT 3:30 PM*
Save your receipt! Daily admission can be applied toward any membership level for up to 14 days.
Museum members always visit for free.
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Activities:For Youths
For Adults
For Everyone
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Visitor Reviews:
A Giantess' 1st VisitThe first thing I noticed after easily parking my car was the architecture. The sheer amount of detail that went into the design is astounding. The entrance to the museum is an incredibly large door that provides the visitor the opportunity to be the miniature and buy into the whimsy they are about to experience. The museum's gift shop, admissions, and information desk are all located in the same kiosk at the front right when you go in. It's a small operation but the docents are fabulously kind and are happy to provide you with anything you might need. I was surprised at the amount of activities that the museum was offering for children. The museum does a stellar job at making accessibility a top priority. They have step stools, flashlights (I highly recommend grabbing one), and other tools to make sure you are able to fully enjoy every individual detail of the exhibit. I was also very surprised to see the amount of assistive tools they have for individuals with disabilities. For a more comprehensive list of resources check their website http://www.theminitimemachine.org/accessibility/. You Won't See EverythingIt's possible that an entire day at the museum would allow you to recognize many superficial components about the exhibits but never its entirety. I was so visually and mentally overstimulated after my visit. I wasn't prepared for how incredibly detailed each model would be. There are tours available but I decided to navigate the museum on my own. I would probably recommend first time visitors take a tour. Even after watching the introductory welcome video and you think you have a pretty good expectation of what you might see; you'd be wrong. The best advice I could offer would be to stick to a pattern of viewing a room. Start on either the right or left hand side but view the entirety of that side of the gallery. This museum has exhibits that could be easily missed if you aren't organized. What's that Over There?There are three main galleries that house the permanent collections supported by temporary exhibits usually featuring local artists or community themes. The most impressive and inviting of the galleries is the Enchanted Realm that is right behind the main desk. Every exhibit in this gallery is just as enchanting as it promises to be. The centerpiece of the gallery is an interactive willow featuring nooks for fairy homes and digital sparkles that react to your touch. The glass floor underneath the tree has an expansive village that has taken the place of it's roots. All of the miniatures in this room are themed around fiction and whimsy. This would certainly be the most exciting room for children and reignites the nostalgia in any adult. There are dragons, witches, fairies, ghouls, goblins, monsters, elves, animals with human characteristics, and classic storybook themes that are featured in the different exhibits. This was my favorite gallery because the tree is phenomenal and found these exhibits the most humorous. The historic gallery lives up to its name highlighting architecture, fashion, design, and cultural retrospectives in history. These exhibits freeze time and offer a glimpse into everyday life during that period. Most of the antique exhibits are located in this area. The last few rooms to explore are for the world traveler that doesn't have the financial means to back their dreams. This room also provides historical commentary on whatever place is being highlighted . I had a difficult time noticing a real difference in the presentation of the historical and world galleries. I felt like they just melt into one another. However, at this time, my eyes were slightly fatigued. The gift shop ends your stay and allows you to take a miniature home with you at every price point. The Effects of the Time MachineI couldn't imagine being in this museum for an entire day. Yes, for the miniature enthusiast this would be heaven. For the average person wanting to experience a community curio, it's a little much. In no way do I mean to discredit or undermine this museum. It was fascinating. It's just overwhelming. There is a lot to take in and not much space to do it in. I never felt rushed or pestered at any exhibit. All of the patrons are in awe at the detail and time that went into each of these pieces. The other-worldly experience the museum sets out to provide is delivered. As you convince yourself you don't need a miniature unicorn stable for $600 from the gift shop, you start to really appreciate the enormity of the experience you just had. Your mind will still be turning as your keys enter your ignition. The artistic aspects and skill should be appreciated. This oddly endearing museum is best matched with patient patrons who are willing to learn about the entire process of miniatures.
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Experiencing the Magic of Miniature:This was also my first time in the Miniature Museum. The museum is pretty sizable, it’s divided into three main sections; The History Gallery, Contemporary Miniatures, and The Enchanted Realm. As an avid art historian I spent most of my time during my visit in the History Gallery. I didn’t really know anything about miniatures going in, but I was surprised to find a wide variety of different historical examples dating back to the early 1800’s. There were pieces from a number of different countries too; the U.S., Victorian England, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, France, Italy, and Japan. Based on labels it seems like they worked mainly with a conservationist named Casey Rice.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were extensive free audio tours throughout the museum. There were length tours depending on how much time you want to commit to, and some of the tours are even led by the founder, Patricai Arnell. You just scan a QR code on your phone and use your own headphones, so it’s probably helpful to bring a pair. My only complaint about the museum is the height of some of the exhibits. I’m only five feet tall, so sometimes when they had already tall miniature houses on raised pedestals, I couldn’t see into them. I imagen a wheelchair used might have a hard time seeing into some of the exhibit cases, otherwise it is very wheelchair accessible, the aisles are very wide.
As someone striving to work in a museum setting I was a little curious about going on behind the scenes. While talking to an employee of the museum, I found out that there is a small percentage of the collection, about 10%, that is not on display. A lot of the donations, accession, and information on the museum's activities are not fully accessible to the public yet. Which I believe they should be based on their non-profit status, but they are currently in the process of cataloging their collections, about 60% of the way done, and when that’s complete that information should be made publicly accessible.
I witnessed an activity that wasn’t posted anywhere on their website. While I was visiting there were a dozen or so children running around looking for fairies throughout the entirety of the museum. Apparently, they have a little scavenger hunt of you kids where they hide fairies in the exhibit cases for them to find, and they move them about every month, so that they are in a different spot for each visit. This is based on one of the featured cases in the Enchanted Realm, but I don’t want to spoil the experience so go see for yourself.
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