Angels Attic is a museum in Santa Monica, California, dedicated to dolls and miniatures. Founded in 1984 by Eleanor LaVove and Jackie McMahan, it has grown from their private collections to include donations from around the world. The museum is open Thursday through Saturday and offers annual passes and membership benefits. It also holds a disacquisition sale annually to make room for new pieces and collections.
Founded in 1984, Angels Attic is a museum in the United States dedicated to the world of dolls and miniatures. It is located at 516 Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California. The museum is open Thursday through Saturday and is closed for all major American holidays. Although often thought of as primarily a children’s museum, Angels Attic appeals to all ages. The museum houses a vast and ever-changing conglomerate of both contemporary and antique dollhouses, toys and miniatures.
Eleanor LaVove and Jackie McMahan are the co-founders and owners of the initial collections that formed the foundation of Angels Attic. The museum grew out of an overwhelming response to the shows the two women began giving in 1975. The purpose of these shows was to raise money for a non-profit school that McMahan’s autistic granddaughter attended. The women combined their doll and dollhouse collections and held a number of lucrative garden parties before deciding to look for a permanent home for the collections.
In 1981, LaVove and McMahan purchased a Queen Anne Victorian home and spent the next several years transforming the building from a run-down boarding house to a spectacular museum. The house is the oldest Victorian home in Santa Monica and has been meticulously restored to its original 1890’s grandeur. Angels Attic officially opened in 1984 and has since increased its collections by donating proceeds to help children with autism and disability. development. Following a merger with the Greater Los Angeles Volunteers of America, the museum’s mission has expanded to provide programs for underprivileged seniors and children.
Since beginning with the private collections of LaVove and McMahan, Angels Attic has received regular donations and loans of miniatures from around the world. Seven galleries and numerous storefronts display miniatures throughout the property. Many of the houses, dolls, and toys share their stories with visitors via nearby labels and signs, indicating the item’s age, maker, and sometimes provenance. The museum holds a disacquisition sale annually to make room for new pieces and collections.
You can purchase annual passes to Angels Attic. Membership benefits include free admission for the member and one guest along with a discount on merchandise such as dolls, miniatures and books. As of 2011, membership costs $100 US Dollars (USD). The non-profit museum uses volunteers, providing them with similar benefits as members. Group tours of Angels Attic and rentals for special events can be arranged by contacting the museum director.
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