The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

Such a well-curated museum! I was pleasantly surprised when I visited the first time and it was much bigger than I imagined! So much variety from German dollhouses to Japanese-style buildings to Ancient Egyptian architecture. Something for everyone including Star Wars, faeries, trains, art-inspired, gentlemen’s rooms, and women’s rooms. Variety in sizes as well from huge dollhouses to little rooms made in an average-size shadow box. The ambience is wonderful as the miniatures are organized well, from Holiday themes to woodland scenes. Truly fun for all ages! The team there is lovely and there is a little gift shop with miniatures you can purchase for a decent price! Absolutely will go back!

This museum is such a unique and interesting one to visit in the Tucson area! I stopped by the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures while I was in town for the holidays visiting family, and I loved the set-up that was both easy for walking around and viewing everything and also feeling quite extensive! There's a few different rooms, with one room being themed around this large fantasy tree and had a lot of miniatures within it and around it that had a lot of fantastical themes! In another area, I really loved some very detailed, intricate miniatures of real-life shops, restaurants, and homes. One in particular was of a real bookstore in Seattle, and I was so impressed by all the detail that went into every little thing and all of the miniature books within it! Lastly, the special exhibition currently there until May 2026 is for Ray Harryhausen, who created miniatures to use with stop motion in many Hollywood films from the 1950's-90's. There's several real-life miniatures available for viewing that were used in the films, which was very cool and interesting to learn more about! Back by the entrance/front desk, there's a little gift shop area with some cute options, although I didn't purchase anything on this visit. All in all, this is a wonderful museum with a lot of very neat miniatures for viewing, and interesting information to learn about this field of work! I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary when visiting Tucson or stopping by if you're a local and have never been!

Pure magic! I've recently gotten into building miniatures so I naturally had to pop into this museum. Wow, what a whimsical, interesting display! My 4 and 5 year olds were very engaged for about an hour in the fantasy room. I will certainly be back. My only suggestion would be adding to the gift shop. I was prepared to spend some money, but most of the items were little toys, typical of any gift shop. I was hoping to see more figurines for sale. Staff is very sweet and the whole facility very clean. Parking lot is sufficient.

This was a great spot highly recommended. A very comprehensive view of miniatures. From dollhouses to dioramas they had it. Trains and cars too. Different cultures. A traveling exhibit featuring the inventor of Dynavision. A stop frame animation technology used in early monster movies

Bently house mini's is the reason we came in. Her builds are awesome! I missed the adams family house but i am looking forward to her next, and i hope it is the beetle juice build. Love this museum and very impressive. Btw, my pics do not do it justice. They could use better lighting in some areas. Other areas were outstanding.

I had a great time here. Employees were super nice. The second you walk in you can already gaze at some really neat pieces. Fair price to get in, not bad at all. They had a great exhibit on Ray Harryhausen and how he made the monsters for the films he was involved in, really cool to see! The whole museum is fantastic, so many incredible miniatures with so much detail you'll never see it all. The halloween and especially christmas themed rooms were my favorite, the christmas village was incredible! Great museum.

The Museum of Miniatures in Tucson is a delightful and surprisingly impressive experience. This outstanding collection showcases all things miniature, with incredible attention to detail and a wide variety of exhibits that kept us engaged throughout our visit. Built in 2009, the museum is a modern facility, and everything—from the parking to the galleries to the displays—is in excellent condition. The facility is clean, well maintained, and includes clean, comfortable bathrooms. Admission is very reasonable; as seniors, our tickets were $13 each, which felt like a great value for the quality and scope of the collection. A true hidden gem in Tucson and well worth a visit.

If you like miniatures and fantastical magical things this is the place to come with all the family . Such a wonderful museum. Well worth it .

What a gem! So many spaces with beautifully detailed miniatures. It's absolutely worth seeing.

Beautifully designed, very well executed with a wonderful collection. Much bigger than I expected and so worth the time if you appreciate miniatures! Also had some fun items in their gift shop area.

Magical and serene, a Tucson treasure. We really enjoyed our time here. So much talent!

A museum that is enchanting for all ages. Many displays of miniature displays at 1:12 scale. Some fantasy and most wondrous imaginative models. My husband and I walked through in about 90 minutes. It was neat to see all the Christmas and Halloween themed creations. There were recent winners of displays made in 2023. I last went in 2017, so I enjoyed things I remembered and things that I believe are new. There is a scavenger hunt to find five fairies, which my eagle eyed husband did awesome. So for kids that might be especially a delight.

I was pleasantly surprised by this museum! There was plenty to look at and I spent a good hour there. I am not much of a reader and there was plenty to just look at for an hour which I liked! The details of all the miniatures are super cool! The staff were very friendly! I learned a lot while I was there.

I spent 90 minutes here. Lots to see and read. The detail of the miniatures is amazing. The larger houses were especially impressive since they were filled with furniture, utensils, wall/ceiling painting, portraits, etc. Well worth the visit and a nice break from the heat on hot days.

The Mini Time Machine Museum is a unique and fun place to visit. And, since some exhibits are seasonal, there always will be new things to see. The exterior looks like most other business buildings until you get to the entrance, which is a small door within a larger one. Once inside, you may spot an even smaller "fairy door" on the wall. When paying (there are student and senior rates), you'll be offered a map so you can focus on specific areas if time is limited. We didn't have time constraints and spent about 2.5 hours taking it in. My favorites included the very detailed 3 story house in the lobby, the craftsman, and Yu Yuan. Others in our group liked the weaving studio, island of books, and the miniature paintings by Wes & Rachelle Siegrist. Since we were there close to a holiday, it was crowded. I expect that it might be quieter during a typical week.

We absolutely LOVED this museum! The detail in each display and the varied collection that they have is amazing. We will definitely go there again and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see something cool and to beat the heat. P.S. Ginger is such a treat to talk to! She had a very cool diorama and a lot of interactive items that were educational.

We made this place one of our must stops during our recent weekend trip to Tucson and I am so glad we did. Finding the museum was easy and parking was more then enough as it was pretty quiet when we arrived. We walked on in and the two friendly people working the desk cheerfully greeted us. Tickets were purchased here and we were given a map of the inside. (They offer military and student discounts) Drinks are not allowed in the museum but they did offer to hold our drink at the front for us. - We ended up chugging it. Once inside, we were amazed. These little miniature things were so adorable and you can literally spend hours and hours looking at every single little piece of art. We were taken away by every single display, it was amazing! Pictures definitely don't do the displays justice and this is something you have to experience in person. They did have a small gift shop area at the end but I did not purchase anything. Really wish they had more of a selection. Bathrooms were clean. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area!

Wow, this museum exceeded my expectations. This museum is where art, history, and imagination intersect. Prior to visiting, I did not realize the artistry required to make miniatures, nor the significant history associated with the practice. There were houses dating back to the 18th century! While all the displays were interesting, I enjoyed the history gallery the most and kids will likely enjoy the enchanted realm and magic theatre the most. Admission was $14/adult and worth it. We spent over 2 hours here!

I spent two hours here looking for relief from a very hot Arizona summer day. In that regard, it was a perfect experience. It is cool, dark, and quiet. If you have SNAPS the entry is only three dollars. You must present your card though. There were definitely aspects I personally didn't like, like elves and fairies but then they had more adult miniatures like the Addams family house, the Halloween section, and history on Japanese folklore. I would've liked to have seen what the rotating miniatures were in a calendar. Maybe that's on their website? Otherwise, there's a little bit of some thing for every age and generation. If I had kids I would certainly bring them here to experience the wonder.

A museum of miniature proportions! This was a fun adventure. Didn't take too long to walk through, but is a great way to beat the southern AZ heat!

This was really cool. The level of detail on these is amazing. I had a small HO train layout as a kid and put together a few models so I always had an appreciation for scaled items. This added a whole new level to my appreciation for the skill some people have.

Really interesting displays of miniatures and well worth the price of admission. Nice touch with providing patrons a small flashlight to better view the interior details of rooms and such.

I had no clue that this museum even existed until family came to town and mentioned it. I didn't know what to expect here, but it was a pleasant experience. It's mind blowing to see all these artists/makers take the time to create all these detailed miniatures. The patience and steadiness of their hands is just unfathomable to me. The pictures don't do it justice, you need to visit the museum and see for yourself - very interesting to see all the colors and textures in person. The museum itself is very clean and well kept. Their staff is very helpful and kind.

Such a fun experience. If your in Tucson you should check this place out. Roughly 13 dollars for general though they have prices ranging for kids and those in college, I didn't have my college ID. I don't even know how many miniature homes they had but I loved all the detail work all the explanations I mean, even looking at the ones that came from 1800s so definitely would recommend if you're in the area.

I had an uneasy feeling that this museum might be lame. It was the opposite! These miniatures look like full size replicas. The artistic talent in this building is incredible. The information is genuinely interesting. Affordable. Take a couple of hours to enjoy this find.

This place was cool to check out and spend time in. I went in on Thursday at 2:30 PM and left a little before 3:45 PM. They close at 4 PM. Plenty of parking. Doll houses were beautiful, unique, and vintage. I would go back again. When buying an online ticket, a dollar is taken off. So total price is $10.50. They have a gift shop and bookends were $30.

Museums aren't know by everyone as interesting which is a shame. The entrance price seemed a little pricey but it was worth it. The entire building has displays of every imaginable "doll house-lack of a better term" The detail was amazing and with the time spent looking around. Small gift area and knowledgeable staff.

This is a cute place to take kids (I took my niece) that is indoors if you want to get out of the heat. It's also good for adults if you're interested in admiring some of the craftsmanship that goes into these tiny displays.

My wife wanted to take her mom and a family friend with a 5 year old, I was not optimistic for my enjoyment future today- LOL. I was pleasantly surprised and actually enjoyed the visit. I was not sure what to expect to be honest. I was envisioning an old lady's house with some doll houses. First, it is a modern looking museum with a very cool entrance, plenty of parking, a very friendly staff, and very clean restrooms. They started the fun with a scavenger hunt, there are five fairies you have to locate throughout the museum & u get a prize. The five year old refused to give up, so thankfully we found the last one. The museum is really well done, the Addams Family Mansion is on display (very cool). There are all types of houses, buildings to look at. Like I said, I was pleasantly surprised & impressed They do offer discounts for Military (Active Duty, Veterans), Seniors, Student. Definitely check it out !!!

We've been talking about visiting the museum for a while now and glad we finally visited! The level of detail and quality of workmanship was exceptional. The newer works showed so much finesse, but the displays dated in the 17 and 1800s were a spectacular site to see. To have been preserved somewhere for so long is amazing. We will be going back in the near future because one cannot absorb all the fine details in one visit. As I looked at some of the pictures I'm posting I see things that I didn't notice during our visit! Amazing!!! I highly recommend visiting The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures in Tucson.

I was looking around the internet for fun things to do as a tourist in Tucson and many people were raving about this place so I had to see for myself. This museum is located in an unassuming location right off the street, but don't let that fool you. Upon entering what looks to be a massive wooden door, you will be filled with a wondrous feeling of awe and adoration as you spot the first few miniature displays in the main lobby. Tickets can be purchased online or in person. The reception warmly greeted me and was very professional, following Covid protocols and wearing a mask. I went on a Tuesday morning so it wasn't very busy at the time. There are various displays that capture different time periods, from the Victorian era, to colonial America, to fantasy worlds with fairies, etc. Each Miniature house/display is super detailed that it makes you think about the amount of work put into these works of art. There are audios that you can listen to as well, which I opted out of. My favorite part of the museum was the Christmas and Halloween section with the giant winter tree. There were displays inside the tree itself which was pretty cool. There was also a small Christmas themed display beneath the floor. There also were a few rotating exhibits which was nice and a section with pencil tip carvings. The insane level of detail is astounding. Overall, a fun and unique experience for visitors of all ages! Definitely recommended for anyone that stops by in Tucson!

If you're interested in unusual things, this place has you covered for an hour or two. Interesting displays. Visit! Expand your horizons!!

Buy tickets online to get $1 off per ticket, no time slot or reservation (at least not on Sat, June 26, 2021). It was $28 total for 2 adults and 1 child. We arrived around 11am and as we left around 12:00, more attendees arrived but still not crowded in parking lot or inside. So we were there for about an hour only. (For a few more bucks, you can upgrade to an annual pass for $35 but we're visitors so no need for that.) If you took the time to listen to the free audio (you can borrow headphones or you can use your own) on SOME of the displays and watch the TV screens with the films and look at the actual models, then yes you could spend 2 to 3 hours there. We looked around, listened to one audio, and watched 2 films, which caused us to be done in an hour. Actually, my daughter (6 yrs) was more interested in looking for the fairies who are hidden in the displays, which is the only reason she lasted one hour instead of 40 minutes. It's basically a whole bunch of miniature dolls, furniture, and other little objects, whether part of a huge display --- with or without a "house" or other structure, with or without a theme. I liked the carving on the tip of a #2 pencil -- of the Eiffel tower and of a bird in cage--for which you could see the video and actual displays. The featured exhibit was art on the eye of a needle -- available for a few months -- with hand held magnifying glasses, by Colombian artist, Flor Carvaja. That was probably my favorite part. The Halloween themed display was kinda fun as was the Christmas display on the floor. One room had a tree with cutouts for mini display. But it's really a collection of items that are around the size of a thimble, plus or minus, some with very intricate detail. I think of the items here as a variation of a ship in a bottle display. It's something different to do...I am not a museum person.

I've lived in Tucson for 15 years and didn't know this place existed until a few years ago. We finally made it by. It was awesome. I only wish they advertised more. I've had many friends and family visit and we're always looking for stuff to do in Tucson since there's not much, this place would've been high on the list every time.

It's a cute little place to escape the heat. If you find the 5 little fairies then you get a cute eraser. It was definitely worth it to see one time and the employees were so nice. I loved it but probably not enough to see again. It was worth the money though!

OMG OMG OMG! Go. This place was fascinating. If you think it's gonna be creepy or boring you would be wrong. The detail is amazing, the craftsmanship is astounding...you'd never think anything like some of this is even possible. Kids will love the doll houses and the recreations of some movie scenes and enchanted fairies and Christmas villages and I personally loved all sorts of facts about mechanical miniatures and the history of some toys you may have played with as a kid - if you're close to my age!

This is a fun museum with lots of interesting displays to enjoy. I have been here a couple times now and love sharing it with new family and friends. It is fun to walk around and see all the amazing small miniatures and the details are out of this world! They offer fairy princess story time for the kids. They were also doing a fairy garden figurine scavenger hunt. I love this museum. It is different and interesting to go to.

Not quite as large as the folk art museum in Santa Fe, but similarly whimsical and engaging. We spent a bit over an hour. There were a ton of Halloween-themed displays up!

I had absolutely the BEST time here! When you go make sure you have plenty of time to see everything! This museum is so well put together and so much talent displayed. There are beautiful fairies placed in discreet places throughout the museum and its you job to locate each one! So much fun!! Please visit and support this museum it does not disappoint.

Let's say I'm glad this was a solo trip, and I didn't bring the Hubby. If you're into tiny mouses in tiny houses, you'll enjoy it here. I was here Christmas week, and one room was just filled with Christmas miniatures. That's not my thing, but I appreciated the miniatures based on the Asian cultures, a display of carved pencil lead miniatures, and a display of Japanese netsuke. It helped to use the transcripts of their audio tour since I hadn't brought my earbuds https://theminitimemachine.org/audio-tour-stops-english/

Impressively detailed miniatures, hundreds of them. A fun way to spend a couple of hours.

One of the better places in Tucson you've never been to. Our boys love exploring the museum and looking through the displays. Where else can you learn about the architecture of a craftsman style home right after you walk through a winter wonderland. The collection is fun, interesting, and air conditioned, which in Tucson means it's a great break from a hot summer day.

Miniature replicas designed and handcrafted to scale(12:1) of eras gone bye (18th-20th centuries) with a glimpse into enchanted realms and places around the world. It was fascinating to view George Washington's Mount Vernon home room by room and outside architecture.There are over 500 houses or room boxes in glass enclosures. Marvelous. Heart warming. Funny. Professional. Mind blowing. Artistic. Vignettes are unique. Detail to the nth degree. Worth a look see! Truly amazing that any human being, actually re-creates a miniature place in "TIME" so absolute at a 12:1 scale. Patience. Design & elegance. Amazing. Stellar. A Museum of history and world wonder sophisticatedly constructed in a miniature model for our edification, enjoyment and imagination. Let go, go see!

In a hidden street far from the city center, there lies an escape land that takes one aback to ancient times. With amazing details, and whimsical story telling, the mini time machine will take the visitors unto the road of discovery of a very unexpected journey of mystical characters. Honestly, for a couple of times, I had to check my GPS to make sure that it is not malfunctioning. The museum was a good 40 minutes from the freeway. I was lost, then I was found. Arriving in their parking lot on a quiet Wednesday afternoon, I was mildly disappointed with the small ordinary brick building. Okay, when in Rome. As soon as one clears the entrance, the soft orange ambient light immediately induces the sense of euphoria. I could not wait to get my sticker and embark on the journey. A few of the exhibits are composed of mini structures of buildings from different countries and time periods. Worth mentioning, was the "Ghost Stories and Fairy Tales" room by Geoff Michell. His stories are not what one would typically found in a children's section in any given library. They generate a electrifying sensation that creeped up again my back, and made all the hair stood up. The style of writing flows beautifully, yet the chill from the tales were undeniable. Whether you travelled to Tucson by car, train, or plane, this is definitely one of the more interesting pit stops.

Adorable and fascinating. Purchase your tickets online for a $1 discount. Wander your way through different tiny time periods, different levels of detail, and all of the whimsey. There were tiny (reportedly) working violins, a cello, and a loom! How is this even possible such things exist and are so damn cute? It blows my mind. So glad we found such a random little museum to fill our afternoon.

We didn't have high hopes for this place, but we were wrong! Been to Tucson many times, but never seen this place, or any advertisement for it. A hidden gem! We had a great time looking at both the special/limited time and regular exhibits. We stayed a couple hours, but could have stayed longer.

We have been visiting for a few years now. When we first came I wasn't sure what to expect. Miniatures grab my attention-the detail and whimsy of it all. I wasn't sure if my kids would enjoy it. Well, we are repeat customers and love it here. Entering is so whimsical and dreamy with the starry sky and giant tree with faces. The holiday miniatures are my kids favorites, and I love noticing the fine details from all. Bookshelves with Knick knacks, different holidays and eras. It's all so amazing. A perfect stop with ice cold ac. There is a little shop to browse and buy from too. The staff has always been friendly. It is a museum so children should be under control.

A place to rock around the clock when you are in Tucson, Arizona. An opportunity to beat the heat at the same time! Who doesn't like the idea of a time machine? A chance to look at things of the past to see how they impact our current times and their potential for our future. The Mini Time Machine Museum is filled with items to stir the imagination. It's a wonderful venue for children, adults and older adults alike! I could see this being a stunning place for a charity event to an epic party, which they do host. I laughed and I reminisced and perhaps I took a trip around the sun...I even picked up a few tiny items in the gift shop to remember our time here. #TheMiniTimeMachineMuseumofMinatures #Tucson #PastPresentFuture #TheValueofTime

EBT cardholders can come in for $1. I was a little bummed as the atlas obscura listing had a picture of a wizard miniature and i thought it was going to be a museum of like literal time travelers coming out of a phone booth and such. Still very cool, loved the Addams family exhibit and the motorcycle animals. Very cool museum, it's time traveling in that there's different time periods represented.

Super cool place.. my kid especially loved the fairies. Also this business is a blue star family friendly business. I will definitely be back at another time in the future

Ok so, miniatures are not really my thing, or so I thought. A few years ago, I decided to take my husband, a major mini fan, here for his birthday. This museum is super cute, and holds so much more exhibits than I ever thought would be there. There's even a short video to watch for a rundown of miniatures, which is neat to watch once or twice. I love their holiday themed miniature exhibits. These are (I think) permanent exhibits, so we've seen them a half dozen times now, and it's like I notice something new every single time we go there. So much fun. Well, I guess I'm a mini fan, after all! Now, honestly, I'm actually still more of a history fan than a miniature fan, and good news: you can definitely get a good insight into history here. They have miniatures from many time periods and eras, and locations around the world. You can imagine what children were playing with, how people were decorating their homes, and the items they used in their homes for baking, maintenance, luxury, recreation, education, etc. If you just look carefully, all of these things glare out at you and speak volumes. I take a lot of time to ponder while at the Mini Museum. They have a couple of rotating exhibits. This year when we went (we go once a year), they had miniature carvings into the lead tips of pencils. They were amazing. The detail was unimaginable and had me in awe. I could barely see the details with my eyes, and someone actually put them there! Very cool. The museum is clean, laid out very well, and fun. It's a great place for kids and adults alike! I would recommend it to everyone at least once. We will keep going annually.

I've never seen anything like this. It is a museum of miniatures. Doll houses, dioramas, models. Everything in tremendous detail. Someone has way more time and patience to do this sort of quality work than you can possibly imagine. Just... wow! Perfect for kids and well worth the entry fee for two hours of exploring and examining these treasures. Pictures are encouraged but no flash cameras please. If you can arrange your tour with one of the docents, that will really help bring out even more of the details you might have missed. If you're lucky, the birthday party in the side rooms won't break loose until you're finished with the exhibits.

This place is a trip!!!! I did not expect the magnitude of the space or how many people are into miniatures. The detail and the craftsmanship of each display represents years of arduous dedication. The layout of the museum with it's 10,000 square feet of space is marvelous, and I loved all of it. The staff is helpful and affable. Just go and see if you like it, you will want to go back.

The Mini Time Machine Museum, or Honey I Shrunk the Exhibits, is a fun quirky little place to go when you're in Tucson. Admission is $9 for adults and they have mini size exhibits of scenes from history, fantasy, movies, holidays, and some Arizona landmarks. All the technical detail and craftsmanship that went into creating something so minuscule is quite admirable. In addition to more faithful replications of scenes such as a scene from Gone With the Wind, or a replica of the San Xavier del Bac mission in Tucson, they have more fantasy type exhibits with mini dragons and fairies. While some exhibits are deliberately odd and quirky, like the Birth of Venus cat or the mini dogs playing mini poker, some were more faithfully replicated to an original source. While the architecture and interior design of the replicated exhibits is excellent, some of the figures in them either don't fit the style represented, or are not to scale. I can understand it's definitely hard to find figurines that small that will fit in a tiny space, but for such a finely detailed exhibit the other elements in it need to be equally as refined. It's definitely a cool place to visit if you're in Tucson, and good for all ages!

took a day trip to tucson and came here after the petting zoo. these miniatures are pretty impressive. Took a lot of pics and lots to see. If you take a pic it looks real life size, its crazy how detailed these are. If you take pics, make sure to put your phone or camera against the glass to get rid of the glare. we will be back.

This place is pretty darn cool. It's just as it sounds, with many tiny versions of things that were truly amazing and literally awesome. Neither my s/o nor myself have ever been into miniatures or dollhouses or anything like that, but still found this place whimsical and fun. My favorite piece was one where there was a miniature violin maker's shop... made in the body of a violin. It was magical. There are so many things here, with enough variety to satisfy anybody. Highly recommend.

Okay, so this is different. Their are some amazing works of art and historical pieces. Not really my thing, but I did find it interesting.