Children's Toy and Doll Museum

08/21/2026

Children’s Toy and Doll Museum
206 Gilman Ave.
August 20, 2026

The American Heritage's next Marietta excursion tour visit will take place on Monday, August 24th. We're excited and ready to welcome The American Heritage visitors to our Children's Toy and Doll Museum. The museum is included in the Marietta Loop excursion tour, which encompasses the Campus Martius Museum, The Henry Fearing House, and Downtown Marietta.
So, distinguished visitors, if you are reading this, bring your intrigue and uncover what our museum has to offer, for it is a hidden gem, unique in its kind. Our dedicated volunteers are prepared to welcome and greet you. We look forward to showing you nine meticulously curated rooms packed with vintage and antique childhood memorabilia, alongside exhibits and displays highlighting history.

American Heritage
Belpre, Ohio

She'll be back. Arriving late Sunday [August 23, 2026] night and leaving Monday [August24]. Scheduled to moor at Belpre.

Photos courtesy of Mark Peters

08/05/2026

Children’s Toy and Doll Museum
206 Gilman Ave. Marietta, Ohio.

Wednesday, August 5, 2026
The American Heritage has arrived and is now docked in
Belpre, Ohio.
Visitors will be on bus excursions throughout the afternoon in Marietta, Ohio from 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM. Visitors will be traveling the Marietta Local Loop which will include stops at Campus Martius Museum, Children’s Toy and Doll Museum, The Henry Fearing House, and Downtown Marietta.
We are looking forward to meeting and greeting today’s visitors from The American Heritage.

08/04/2026

Children’s Toy and Doll Museum
August 3, 2026

What a great day to have been able to meet and greet guests from the American Cruise Lines and the American Melody on Monday, August 3rd for an all day visit in Marietta.

We are looking forward to meet and greet guests from the American Heritage coming to Marietta Wednesday afternoon on August 5th for a tour of our Children’s Toy and Doll Museum.

Make it a great day everyone.

Here are a few photos of what visitors can expect to see when guests come to our museum:

07/29/2026

Children’s Toy and Doll Museum
206 Gilman Ave Marietta, OH

July 29, 2026
Today in History
A Royal Wedding Remembered

Today, we remember the 1981 royal wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Our museum currently has two notable doll collections representing British royalty which includes Prince Charles and Princess Diana royal dolls.

Our collection of royalty showcases doll maker and artist Peggy Nisbet’s royal dolls each wearing historical period costumes. In 1952 Peggy Nisbet’s first commissioned royal doll was of Queen Elizabeth II wearing her coronation gown.
The exhibit includes King Henry VIII and King Henry’s Six Wives, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth II, Lady Jane Grey, Mary Tudor, Mary Queen of Scots, Prince Charles and Princess Diana. If you look closely at the photo standing in foreground to the left side of the photo is a signed self-portrait doll of Peggy Nisbet wearing a magenta cape. Peggy Nisbit went on to create dolls that not only represented Royalty but also American Presidents and even movie stars.

Our second royal collection is of Princess Diana Royal Wardrobe Collection by Danbury Mint was initially released in 1987. The collection contains replicas of Princess Diana’s most famous outfits from 1980’s with copies of matching accessories. The Princess Diana Royal Wardrobe Collection was donated to the museum by Mary Wharton from Marietta, OH in 2020.
In the display case each outfit has been numbered. A collector’s set of cards describes the ensemble, the events to which Diana wore it, named the designer, and includes a photo of Diana wearing the dress. The cards also have interesting anecdotes about the jewelry or the protocol of dressing royal ladies which makes for interesting reading.

So, today we remember a royal wedding where about one billion television watchers in 74 nations tuned in to witness the union of Prince Charles, the British heir, with Lady Diana Spencer, a young English kindergarten aide. Married in a grand ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral in the presence of 2,650 guests, the couple was—for that moment at least—the envy of the world. Their first child, Prince William, was born in 1982, and their second, Prince Harry, was born in 1984.

Make it a great day everyone and do come in to see our Peggy Nisbet’s Royality Dolls exhibit and Princess Diana’s Royal Wardrobe.

Curious?
The on and explore using the links provided below for more about the royal wedding and Princess Diana.

https://youtu.be/17vYiDOIGFM?si=RfBa1SPQyJaLhtu8
YouTube video 9: 25 mins.
View the procession leading to Lady Diana Spencer’s arrival for her walk down the aisle.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/july-29/prince-charles-marries-lady-diana
Prince Charles marries Lady Diana

https://www.history.com/articles/prince-charles-lady-diana-wedding
How Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s Wedding Became a Global Phenomenon. By Jessica Pearce Rotondi

5 must see outfits from the Princess Diana fashion exhibit USA TODAY published Feb. 24, 2017 by Maria Puente
Includes 32 photos Princess Diana’s frocks set to stun again Video slides
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/02/24/5-must-see-outfits-princess-diana-fashion-exhibit/98358048/

07/28/2026

Children’s Toy and Doll Museum
206 Gilman Ave Marietta, OH

The American Heritage
Our museum welcomed the American Heritage visitors on Monday, July 27th. What an opportunity for us to meet and greet her guests to our museum. Their riverboat journey hailed from
Madison, Indiana, Cincinnati, OH, arriving in Marietta, OH on July 27th and will be heading out to Pittsburgh, PA.

The riverboat guests traveled from across the country, California, Kentucky, Georgia, Idaho, Pennsylvania, and Charleston, WV to make their journey to Marietta, Ohio.

Excursion buses scheduled morning stops throughout the Marietta Loop which included Campus Martius Museum, Downtown Marietta, The Henry Fearing House, and our Children’s Toy and Doll Museum.
The American Heritage is scheduled to return to Marietta
August 5th, 10th, 19th, and 24th.👏

Did you know about the Joyful Afternoon Tea
Historical Experience Series in Marietta, Ohio?

The Joyful Afternoon Tea made an afternoon visit to the American Heritage on July 27th.
The Joyful Afternoon Tea is part of America 250th Celebration and will be at The Buckley House Marietta, OH August 15-16,2026.
Check out the short reel of their visit on the American Heritage Riverboat. Click on the link below. 0.58 mins

https://fb.watch/IEr7WVp-Uk/?fs=e

Thank you for stopping by to visit our page. Feel free to share our post with your family and friends in your community
Make it a great week everyone.

07/27/2026

Children’s Toy and Doll Museum
206 Gilman Ave Marietta Ohio

Wednesday, July 29th
The American Melody.
She is returning to Marietta, Ohio and we will be meeting and greeting her guests👏👏

🚢 Riverboat Visit Update – July 29
The American Melody is scheduled to dock in Belpre on Wednesday, July 29.

If you're planning to see the boat, please join us in Belpre as we welcome the passengers.

Be sure to follow Visit Marietta Ohio for the latest updates on riverboat arrivals, docking locations, and any schedule changes throughout the season.

07/27/2026

Children Toy and Doll Museum
Monday, July 27, 2026

Harmar Days Festival
The results of 2026 Raffle Winners
Congratulations to all the winners👏👏

Congrats to all of our 2026 Raffle Winners and a BIG THANK YOU to the 822 participants in the raffle!
(all winners have been contacted)

07/27/2026

Children’s Toy and Doll Museum
Sunday, July26, 2026
Museum fundraiser and raffle ticket sale results

During Saturday and Sunday Harmar Days Festival our museum held raffle ticket sales for three unique afghan throws representing landmarks of Williamstown, WV, Marietta, Oh, and the State of Ohio.

Our raffle ticket winners:
Williamstown, WV afghan: Jessica Lyons of Pineville, WV.

Marietta, OH. afghan: Amy Ketchum, of Marietta, OH

State of Ohio afghan: Ann Hontz, of Marietta, OH

Congratulations to our winners and thank you to all who participated by purchasing tickets and supporting our museum.

Thank you to Kim Reese, Gretchen Montgomery, Diane Pfile, Marilyn Potash, and Allision Harvey for your volunteer time in setting up our sale table, selling our raffle tickets, and for representing our museum during the Harmar Days Festival.

During the festivities our museum was also open and received new visitors to tour the museum.
Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who were there to meet and greet our visitors, Kathy Eckert, Teresa Spencer, Mabry O’Donnell, Betty Stollar, and Donna Schob.

Thank for stopping by and take a moment to share our post with family and friends in your communities.
Make a great week everyone🙂

07/25/2026

Children’s Toy and Doll Museum
206 Gilman Ave, Marietta, OH

Saturday, July 25,2026
Harmar Days Festival

You can expect to find a day packed with activities that includes live entertainment, a fun Kid’s Zone, and art demonstrations. Then you’ll need to stop by some pretty awesome vendors lined up to show off and sell you their products. Of course there will be yummy food, ice cream, kettle popcorn….and well you just need to come and see for yourself, bring a friend, bring the family, and make it an outing for the day.

Stop by our raffle ticket table and purchase your ticket(s) $2 single ticket or three for $5 and an opportunity to win a historical landmark afghan throw of Ohio, Marietta, Williamtown, WV
Then tour our museum Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 pm Admission Adults $5 Children $2 and $10 Immediate Family Members.

Check out the photos and see what’s happening during the Saturday’s festivities.
Hope to see there.

07/23/2026

Children’s Toy and Doll Museum
206 Gilman Ave
July 23, 2026

Yes, our museum will be open on Saturday and Sunday
from 1-4 pm.
Admission:
$5 Adults $2 Children $10 Immediate Family Members

During the weekend festivities our Children’s Toy and Doll Museum will be holding a raffle ticket sale on three historical afghan throws depicting state and local landmarks for:
1803 OHIO, 1788 MARIETTA, OH and WILLIAMSTOWN, WV

Raffle Tickets are: $2 per ticket or $5 for three tickets.
The raffle sale is a fundraising initiative to raise funds for the nonprofit museum’s monthly operational expenses.

You can give your support for our nonprofit organization by participating in the raffle sale or by paying for an admission to tour the museum. We have volunteers ready to meet and greet you at the raffle ticket sale table outside the museum and also inside our museum.
Make your plans and be part of the weekend’s festivities. You are sure to find something to entertain you and your family throughout the weekend.
See you there.

Historic Harmar Bridge Company…
They are getting ready for a fantastic weekend