National Farm Toy Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1986 |
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| Location | 1110 16th Ave Ct SE Dyersville, Iowa, USA |
| Type | Toy museum |
The National Farm Toy Museum is a special place in Dyersville, Iowa. It's a museum that collects and shows off toys, scale models, and replicas of real farm equipment. The idea for this museum came from Dave Bell and Claire Scheibe. They were the founders of the Ertl Company, a famous toy maker.
A Look Back: How It Started
The National Farm Toy Museum opened in 1986. Dave Bell and Claire Scheibe had a great idea. They needed a larger place for the big National Farm Toy Shows. This is how the museum began.
What You'll See Today
Each year, more than 30,000 people visit the museum. It holds about 30,000 farm toys! The museum is also the main spot for the National Farm Toy Show. It has one of the biggest collections of cast iron farm toys.
The museum takes part in toy shows every June and November. On the first floor, you can watch a short film. It's about how toys are made in Dyersville. You'll also hear from people who love collecting farm toys.
This floor also has a fun play area. There are dioramas that show farm homes. You can also see small exhibits explaining how toys are produced.
Upstairs on the second floor, you'll find many farm toys in display cases. There are also truck toys and a collection of cowboy and Native American dolls. Don't forget to check out the gift shop for souvenirs!
Dyersville is known as the "Farm Toy Capital of the World." This is partly thanks to the museum. Also, three farm toy companies are located right there in the city.
Exciting Toy Shows
The National Farm Show started way back in 1978. It's a huge event! The show includes a tractor parade and garage sales. You can also see old tractors and antique farm machinery.
The farm toy show itself is both inside and outside. The very first show had 35 sellers. More than 1,500 people came to shop for toys. The museum also hosts a smaller event called the Midwest Toy Truck Show.
