Tinkertown Museum
Over 30 years of whimsy and wonder await your group at Tinkertown Museum, the extremely fun art gallery located in Sandia Park. Inside you will find tinker expert Ross Ward’s elaborately handmade dioramas of Old West Scenes and antique toys, the entire collection providing a truly unique and awe-inspiring experience to guests of all ages.
The ‘magic of animation’ comes to life within in this ‘fantastic and funky’ museum (Sunset Magazine), several guests visiting yearly to see the 'work in progress'.The museum, and the late Ross Ward more specifically, are ready to inspire your imagination and awaken your creative spirit as they so tenderly state, the museum more than proud of Ward’s 40 years of carving, collecting, and lovingly constructing the mini wood-carved figures.
Throughout the 60’s and 70’s, this business was merely a traveling attraction, though today it holds 22 permanent museum room exhibits. You will see such things as wagon wheels, storefronts, and other various Western memorabilia outside as well, making the entire establishment a fun and exciting experience, not just the interior. The walls are made up of over 50,000 glass bottles, and a certain circus atmosphere mixed with eccentric Americana decorates the winding halls throughout. One of the most interesting additions to this collection is the 35’ antique wooden sailboats that took on a 10-year voyage around the world successfully.
Before your group leaves you may want to consider a stop at the Gift Shop, a ‘wonderful, whimsical, wacky, and wild’ store filled with fun gift items and intricate hand-carved and painted trinkets. Student groups may also want to download and print off the online Field Guide before coming as well, the sheet providing fun activities for children during your visit.
