Dorset Teddy Bear Museum facts for kids
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| Location | Dorchester, Dorset, England |
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| Type | Teddy bear museum |
The Dorset Teddy Bear Museum is a special place in Dorchester, Dorset, in the southwest of England. It's a museum all about teddy bears! It first opened its doors in 1990 in Bournemouth. Later, in 1995, it moved to Dorchester. This museum is known for being the oldest teddy bear museum in the United Kingdom.
Contents
A Look Back: The Museum's Journey
This museum shows off many different kinds of teddy bears. You can see antique bears, famous bears, and many others. It first opened in 1990 in Bournemouth. Back then, it was called 'The Bournemouth Bears'.
Moving to Dorchester
In 1995, the museum moved to a lovely old Victorian building in Dorchester. At that time, its name changed to Teddy Bear House. It moved one more time after that. Then, it became known as The Dorset Teddy Bear Museum.
The Oldest in Britain
The museum is thought to be the oldest teddy bear museum in Britain. It is owned by a company called World Heritage. This company also owns other interesting museums in Dorchester. These include the Terracotta Warriors Museum, the Dinosaur Museum, and the Tutankhamun Exhibition.
What You Can See: The Collections
The teddy bears are displayed inside a Victorian house. This house has been decorated to look just like it would have in the past. It feels like stepping back in time!
Edward Bear and His Family
You'll meet a life-sized bear named 'Edward Bear'. He and his family are posed throughout the house. They even have their own collection of teddy bears! It's like a bear family living in a bear museum.
Famous Teddy Bear Friends
The museum has many famous bears from TV shows and books. You might recognize some of them! These include Paddington Bear, Rupert Bear, Winnie the Pooh, Sooty and Sweep, and Yogi Bear.
Old and Special Bears
The oldest bear in the museum is from 1906. That's a very old teddy bear! There are also bears from well-known toy makers. These include Steiff, Merrythought, and Chad Valley. The museum also has copies of bears that were sold for a lot of money at auctions.
The Gift Shop
After exploring the museum, you can visit the gift shop. It's a great place to find a teddy bear or a souvenir to remember your visit.
