The Most Amazing Museum Of Toys

Spent the early part of yesterday walking through Colonia Doctores to the wonderfully whimsical and truly inspired Museo del Juguete Antiguo México, a full building’s worth of toys, presented in off-kilter tableaus and fever-dream displays. The point is to place toys in a cultural and historical context and the endeavor is the result of one man’s lifetime passion of collecting toys, especially toys from the street vendors around Mexico City. The homespun museum is a mom-and-pop operation, and the collection has almost an auteur’s perspective — individual, esoteric and totally brilliant. The four floors of displays almost seem like one of those dream scenarios where new rooms keep appearing where you didn’t expect them. So amazing and highly, highly recommended.

All around the museum the displays have signs reading “el niño que no juega no es niño” — the child who does not play is not a child:

And so many luchadores!

The founder’s son has expanded the museum’s mission by embracing street art, of which there is are lively expressions thereof around the museum and on its rooftop. The whole experience reminds me of Coney Island — a perfect mix of whimsical nostalgia and edginess. The upper floors of the museum take up this thread:

The Museo del Juguete Antiguo México is located on Dr. Olvera off of Lázaro Cárdenas near the Obrera metro station. Website here.