The Mini Time Machine Museum in Tucson, Arizona preserves the past but in miniature form for the entertainment and awareness of the general public.
It was 2009 when the museum opened; however, the concept came into being about 75 years ago when a young Patricia Arnell received a Christmas gift of wooden dollhouse furniture. Over the years she and her husband started a collection of new and historic miniatures.
The Mini Time Machine Museum allows visitors to be transported back in time. The history of the human race and stories are presented through the numerous miniatures at the museum. There are 300 miniature houses and room boxes for visitors to be enticed by.
After entering the rotunda, located in the center of the gallery, visitors will find the Enchanted Realm room to their left. This room is all about miniatures that bring fiction and folklore to life. It also has a very exciting miniature holiday display. The whole display is covered with glass and visitors can walk above the rooftops of the miniature buildings that are part of the display. There is also the ‘Snow Village’ display that visitors can enjoy. All of the buildings and activities in the display represent the Main Street U.S.A.
Lifestyles across the globe are shown through the ‘Exploring the World’ gallery. The final gallery in the museum shows life as it used to be during the 18th,19th and the early 20th centuries.
The museum also offers different resources to experience the displays to the fullest. Visitors can borrow a flashlight, a step stool, and even an app that they can access through smartphones or tablets for an audio guide.
The Mini Time Machine Museum is located at 4455 E. Lowell Drive in Tucson, Arizona. You can visit the museum from 9am to 4pm Tuesday – Saturday, and on Sunday from noon to 4pm. Admission price for adults is $9 while individuals aged 4 to 17 will have to pay $6. Children under 3 can enter the museum for free.
