Mitspielzeugmuseum, museum in Germany
The Mitspielzeugmuseum is a museum in Leipzig-Stötteritz that focuses on toys from the former German Democratic Republic and Eastern Bloc countries, holding around 2800 objects. The collection includes toy trains, dolls, doll shops, building sets, and metal toys, plus children's books, films, and recordings from that era.
The project began in 2001 as a traveling exhibition without a permanent home before settling into its current location in Stötteritz in 2004. The collection was assembled through private donations and loans, documenting how children played in the German Democratic Republic and Eastern Bloc countries.
The name reflects a core idea: visitors are meant to play with the toys, not just look at them. Throughout the rooms, you see toys arranged in scenes that show how children actually used them in their daily lives.
The museum sits in a quiet neighborhood, making it a relaxed destination for families exploring Leipzig. The exhibition rooms are laid out in a way that lets you move through at your own pace and spend time with the toy displays.
A monorail track runs through one room, letting visitors operate mechanical models themselves. This interactive feature delights both children and adults and reveals how automation worked in everyday life back then.
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