What is it about miniatures that makes them so fascinating and appealing? Flat Hitty took a trip to the Midwest Miniatures Museum in Grand Haven, Michigan to find out. This museum was renovated over the winter to add brand new exhibits on the second floor. It is definitely worth a visit if you are a lover of miniatures. I have been there multiple times, but I wanted to come back to see the new exhibits. I’m happy to share these photos with my readers, who may not get a chance to visit in person.
The Midwest Miniatures Museum was founded by Francis Light in 2009 to house her extensive collection of miniatures. At first, Light’s miniatures were on display at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, MI. A search for a more suitable, permanent home began after Light passed away in 2012, leaving a generous bequest. Read on to learn why I think miniatures are special.
1. Miniatures honor the past.
The museum is housed in an old Victorian mansion which actually looks like a dollhouse. The Nathaniel and Esther Robbins Home was built in 1900 in the Classical Colonial Revival style. The Robbins Home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. In 2019, the Midwest Miniatures Museum purchased the house to preserve its history and turn it into a one-of-a-kind museum. It is a fitting home for miniature exhibits which recreate all the minute details of eras past.
2. Miniatures feed our obsessions.
We all have interests, but some people become truly obsessed. I admit I may be a bit obsessed with a certain antique doll named Hitty (which is why I write this blog). The builder of the RMS Titanic model must have been obsessed as well. After being inspired by an expedition to search for the Titanic, Wayne Kusy poured over original blueprints and deck plans to design his model, using a scale of 1:88. He finished the ship in 1985. The detailed model was built from 75,000 toothpicks and a gallon of Elmer’s glue!
The model Titanic is over ten feet long, and it rests in an enormous, custom-built glass case. The display was much too large to take up the staircase. In order to place it on the second floor, a west-facing window was removed from the house. Then a large crane carefully lifted the model up to the level of the window, and workers maneuvered it into place. That must have been quite a sight to see.
3. Miniatures showcase perfection.
A high-quality miniature displays unparalleled craftsmanship. The Round House might be my favorite of all the exhibits. I am partial to the beauty of the design, which shines through every tiny detail. The Round House was built to 1:12 scale in the Art Nouveau style by Zoe Michael and Kevin Edward in 1992. The opening is split right down the center of the structure.
When I look at this design, I feel a sense of calm. The lines are organic, and the colors are all light and dark stained wood. The interior of the house has three floors with patterned wood inlay. A metal spiral staircase fills the center of the house. The exterior features a cone-shaped roof covered in wood shingles, wood siding, a circular porch and decorative brass trim around the windows and balconies. This is the perfect house for Hitty to inhabit.
4. Miniatures are immersive.
We know artists can paint pictures and take beautiful photographs. But how can that compare with looking inside a miniature room box, rich with exquisite details from a specific time period in history? One second floor gallery displays French-themed exhibits. A “French Music Room” scene contains 1:12 scale miniatures by multiple artists. Here you will find a doll dressed in a Marie Antoinette-style court dress, or “robe de cour” in French.
The furnishings include a beautifully painted harpsichord and bench, hooked rug, sofa and chairs. The pale blue and white walls are covered with architectural details. A massive crystal and gold chandelier hangs from the center of the ceiling, and there are matching sconces on the back wall. I also love the sumptuous fabric canopy above the sofa, with a pastoral painting as the focal point.
Also in the French gallery is a large model of the Hall of Mirrors created by Robert Dawson, Donald Ward and Robert Ward in 1999. The original Hall of Mirrors was built inside the Palace of Versailles during the reign of King Louis XIV. Here is Flat Hitty next to the exterior, showing the amazing architecture. I tried to get a picture of the inside, but there were too many reflections (no pun intended).
5. Miniatures make dreams a reality.
The Juliana dollhouse on the first floor may be the most touching exhibit in the museum. It all started with the dream of a high school girl, Julia Poland, who was fascinated with Victorian architecture. With the help of her father, she began working on a large Victorian house, inspired by a painting by artist Sue Wall.
Sadly, Julia was only able to complete the Conservatory before passing away at the age of 26. Many years later, Julia’s family hired another artist named Vicky Bickel to complete Julia’s vision. After nine more years, she finally finished the work Julia had begun. The Juliana dollhouse now stands prominently on the first floor of the museum, bringing joy to visitors and sharing the legacy of Julia’s dream. Take a look at that gorgeous gingerbread trim!
6. Miniatures are MADE BY REAL ARTISTS!!!
Wait, didn’t I promise you 5 reasons to love miniatures? Why would I add a 6th? Well, I tried a little experiment while writing this blog article. I asked ChatGPT to write a 1,000 word post with the title, “5 Reasons to Love Miniatures” with specific examples from the Midwest Miniatures Museum. In less than ONE SECOND, it started spewing out text. And guess what… it wasn’t bad! Arguably, it was even better written than mine in spots. I really liked the summary statement in particular, which said:
“Miniatures invite curiosity. They reward patience. And perhaps most importantly, they remind us that beauty and meaning don’t depend on size. Whether you’re a lifelong enthusiast or simply looking for something different to explore, the Midwest Miniatures Museum proves that sometimes the smallest things leave the biggest impression.” — ChatGPT
Sounds pretty smooth. But it was not written by a real person. A person with a unique point of view. A person who loves dolls as well as miniatures. My blog may not be as slick and professional as ChatGPT, but it is about things that I think my readers will enjoy.
We are all surrounded by AI-generated content now. So much of it is slop! Maybe as a result of that, people will come to appreciate miniatures more, because they were created by real artists.
Flat Hitty had a great time at the Midwest Miniatures Museum. If you are ever in West Michigan, come check it out. When you visit, relax, slow down and take the time to enjoy every tiny detail. And that is how we can honor all the amazing artists who put so much effort into making these incredible miniatures a reality.
