Istanbul Toy Museum

The Istanbul Toy Museum, founded by Belgin Akın and poet/writer Sunay Akın on April 23, 2005, offers world history to its visitors in a more entertaining and memorable way of learning. More than 4 thousand toys that Akın purchased from antique dealers and auctions in more than 40 countries in 20 years are exhibited in the museum.

In the section where space toys are exhibited in the museum consisting of different themes, the effort to reach the Moon is told in the language of toys, while in the section where train toys are exhibited, the industrial revolution is told in the language of toys. The decor of the museum was designed by stage design artist Ayhan Doğan. The museum is also a first in the world with the feature of being opened by a poet and designed by a stage design artist. It is given great importance that the place where dreams live, not rules, is a living museum. For this reason, the museum does not compromise on its missions such as telling history with workshops and educational activities, passing it on to future generations and protecting social heritage.

One of the most important features of the Istanbul Toy Museum is that it is a place that can be visited by all 3 generations. Parents who travel to their own era with toys can share that era, their childhood, and its social and economic aspects with their children.

The museum, where toy models from the 1700s to the present are exhibited in a 3-story historical mansion, also has an important place among its examples in the world. The TOYCO-2012 Istanbul (European Toy and Children's Museums Association) meeting, organized by the Istanbul Toy Museum in November 2012 and a first in the world, was held in Turkey for the first time. In this way, the Istanbul Toy Museum became a pioneer in the establishment of a children's and toy museum association in the world, and earned Istanbul the title of 'capital of toy museums'.

We do not know if the museum was prepared only for children, but we hope that it has helped to remember our lost childhood once again and will continue to do so.

Photo Source: https://istanbuloyuncakmuzesi.com/