Tartu Mänguasjamuuseum

About the museum

The Tartu Toy Museum was founded in 1994. The permanent exhibition is in three old houses at Lutsu 8 and shows what Estonian children have played with over the years. The toys and dolls are displayed in lifelike settings.

The display includes porcelain dolls of town children, tin soldiers, stone building blocks and old teddy bears, as well as wooden animals, tools and rag dolls of country children. Paper dolls, board games, doll houses, toy cars, trains, aeroplanes, rocking horses and scooters can be seen. Dolls made of mixed materials and celluloid from the 1950s and 1960s, products of Norma, Salvo and Polümeer from the 1970s and 1980s, and cartoon characters from the 1990s and 2000s attract particular attention. The collection also includes artists’ dolls, folk toys from world cultures and a rare collection of Estonian film dolls.

Teatri Kodu at Lutsu 2 is a theatre house and puppet theatre museum. In the cellar visitors can try puppet manipulation on small stages, and there is a medieval room with a rare 14th-century hypocaust. The museum has received the Green Museum title.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition of Estonian children’s toys in three old houses
• Rare collection of Estonian film dolls
• Play room and hands-on exhibitions
• Teatri Kodu puppet theatre museum with an automatic puppet theatre
• Medieval room with a 14th-century hypocaust

Permanent exhibition

• Püsinäitus – Estonian children’s toys and dolls in lifelike settings in three old houses: toys of town and country children, products from the 1950s to the 2000s, artists’ dolls and film dolls.

Founded

1994

Admission & discounts

Tickets are cheaper when bought online; the e-ticket is valid for a year and gives one entry. Museum card holders enter free. Staff of Estonian museums and ICOM members also enter free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum website has separate information for visitors with wheelchairs and pushchairs, and about the accessibility of the café and the shop.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Play room, crafts, children’s studio, and theatre performances for children and babies at Teatri Kodu.

Getting there & parking

The museum website has separate pages “How to get here” and “Parking information”.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café and shop (museum shops in Lutsu 8 and Lutsu 2).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

Rental for birthdays and other parties, the play room and the children’s studio.

Plan your visit