Tinkertown Museum, folk art museum in Sandia Park, New Mexico
Tinkertown Museum is a small museum in Bernalillo County filled with handmade toys, folk art, and carved wooden figures created over many decades. The space contains dioramas, wood carvings, glass bottle displays, and whimsical scenes arranged casually throughout informal rooms and walkways.
Ross Ward created the museum over more than 40 years, starting to display his creations at fairs and carnivals in the 1960s. After his passing, the collection became a lasting tribute to his artistic vision and dedication to his craft.
The name "Tinkertown" reflects the playful nature of Ross Ward's creations, which are assembled from everyday objects and materials. Visitors can see how craftsmanship and humor come alive in each piece, creating a personal artistic language that tells stories rooted in local traditions and simple life.
The museum is open seasonally from spring through fall, with winter closures to preserve the collections. There is no admission fee, but donations are welcome, and it is worth checking hours beforehand since visits work best with a slow pace.
The museum displays a large wooden sailboat over 35 feet long that completed a ten-year voyage around the world. This unexpected piece showcases Ward's diverse artistic interests and reveals how the collection extends beyond carved figures to include objects with their own stories.
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