The toy Museum is one of the first private cultural institutions in St. Petersburg. Located on the embankment of the Karpovka, close to the historical centre of the city. The toy Museum was opened in the spring of 1997. It was the second such cultural institution in our country after Sergiyev Posad Museum of toys. Is part of the Union of museums of Russia. Museum Director Maria Marchenko.

St. Petersburg Museum of toys was established as the art Museum, the main purpose of scientific activity is collecting, storing, exhibiting and studying toys not only as a unique phenomenon of material culture, but also as a specific art form, which combines national traditions and contemporary artistic trends. The existence of the Museum is supported by donations of individuals and companies-founders.

The toy Museum is interesting not only for children but also for adults. The dolls and toys that are available in the Museum's collection, you can explore the history of the country and St. Petersburg, his cult and everyday life at different stages of its development. Still toys have always been a reflection of the spirit of the times and traditions of the state. And therefore, anyone who is engaged in the study of Russian culture and culture of other countries, it will be interesting to visit this Museum.

Besides Russian toy Museum has exhibitions that are dedicated to the toys of other countries. Therefore, for visitors there is the opportunity to trace their specificity, to produce a comparative analysis of fun and games in different countries.

The toy Museum consists of four halls: the hall of the national toy hall industrial toys, the hall is the author's toys and a hall for temporary exhibitions (the exhibition is changed every 2 months).

In the hall of folk toys, which is the permanent exhibition shows more than 17 crafts of our country and crafts of other States. Here are the traditional peasant "fun" out of wood, clay, paper, fabric, cheese and dough. Also you can see the knitted straw and rag dolls, costumes which reflect the life of various strata of society.

In the section of industrial toys, which is a permanent exhibition, you can see a big factory manufacture different countries. Dolls, Railways, games, mechanical and soft toys, paper theatres, tin soldiers make up this exhibition.

Section of the art-toys is a pluggable exposure. She presents feature objects.

Just in the St. Petersburg toy Museum has over 7000 items created from the XVI to XX century. Among the rare exhibits you can highlight theatrical toys from Italy, toys cheese from Transcarpathia, a kite from Japan.

From the guide you can learn about the history of toys, about the symbolism used in its manufacture, on entry into the country of another culture and how the impact of her fashion or another time. In the Museum you can choose a tour on different topics: "the Tale of the peoples of the world dolls", "Doll in suits of different times and peoples", "Making toys", "Artist doll" and others. During school holidays there are performances for children. The Museum also hosts regular themed exhibitions: for example, "Toys for Salvador Dali".

St. Petersburg Museum of toys is renown and abroad. Thus, since 2004 the exhibition devoted to Soviet toy, roamed not only our country, but also in Austria, Italy and Finland.