tinkertown museum

disabledtraveler410

We found this place by accident from a brochure at a visitor center and were immediately intrigued. It is wheelchair accessible throughout, however, some parts are most definitely a tight squeeze to maneuver a wheelchair around, and a couple places have short steep ramps.Though most displays are easily visible from the vantage of a wheelchair, there are several that, if at all possible, you'll want to stand to see fully, and parts of many displays are not clearly seen at all unless you do stand. The entire museum is fascinating and a delight to the eyes. The details and the range of expression can't be described--it's too vast. The wonder of them bring you back to childhood.Even though it is a bit difficult to navigate at points, it is well worth the effort.One critical note: handicap washrooms are not available.

sandia63

I really enjoy the Tinkertown museum.It is fantastic , unique and eclectic. What a lot of these reviews omit is the Amazing story of the Theodora-R sailboat display!.... Easily the top sailing story I've ever read ( and I've read a lot..from Francis Chichester on)....more than 10 years of Wooden boat living all around the world and finally The Theodora-R 's final port is in the SANDIA mountains-Tinkertown Museum. .. Gift shop has rare and unique stuff including book on Theodora-R. ENJOY

Ladybird43

Best museum ever! I truly loved the eccentric charm of this gem of a place. I giggled my way around at the quirky tableaux of the circus, the dolly and wedding cake topper displays, the covered wagons, the pithy signs, the creepy fortune teller. Come armed with quarters and a light heart. This place will do you nothing but good. Highly, highly recommended, for young and old alike. And the gift shop is brilliant too! One of my New Mexico highlights (and there were many). Light up your life and go to Tinkertown!!

RussellS397

The craftsmanship here is amazing. The man who started this museum spent a lifetime carving scenes of stores, shops, workplaces, etc., circa early 20th century. Since his career was props and art creator for a circus, there's a ton of circus memorabilia -- as well as everything else that he collected. But the carved scenes filled with tiny figurines. It's hard to find, but just look for the one billboard sign on the state highway going east from Albuquerque.

Svensk11

Tinkertown was started as a private endeavor but eventually succumbed to pressures by the public to tour the attraction. Some walls are made from bottles in cement. You follow a trail of sorts through interconnected areas of eclectic collections ranging from dolls, old west memorabilia and dioramas, a yacht sailed around the world, circus dioramas, license plates, humorous signs, Americana, etc. Tall people beware - doorways are low. The wild west dioramas have pushbuttons that activate some of the characters - detail in both the old west and circus dioramas is amazing. Definitely worth stopping in on your way to the Sandia Crest..

158pattya

I had no idea what to expect when we got to this quirky looking museum/attraction. But it was so interesting. Something intricate/unique/interesting to see everywhere you looked. His dioramas with all the characters were fascinating. The detail and the humor were really fun to see throughout the whole place, inside and out. We were there in the rain and only a small portion is outside, and most of it is covered to keep you dry. This is a not to miss attraction if you are in the Albuquerque area for sure. And the entrance fee is a steal.

geeluv05

OK! Tinkertown! WOW! Ross Ward carved and collected stuff for over 40 years and this is an avenue used to display his talent and acquisitions. It's found on the Turquoise Trail which is a scenic byway going from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. Fun and interesting!

JulieC2004

I really enjoyed every part of this Museum, the man that put this place together put his art and craftsmanship to work. The bulk of it is done by hand, carvings and all and a lot of detail. And it also has a lot of stuff he collected over the years and part of the museum is made from cement and bottles. Just take your time and enjoy yourself, we went back to see some that we missed because we didn't want to hold up the line.

NY10040

While driving back to Santa Fe from Albuquerque, I stopped her and it was a deliciously quirky place to immerse yourself for a either a short while or longer if you want to linger. There are literally hundreds of things to look at and if you've got plenty of quarters there are machines along the way to amuse you. On the way out while purchasing some "John Wayne Toilet Paper" (it's rough and tough and won't take any .....), they told me that in one of the last episodes of Breaking Bad, Walter White told his wife, "we should just take the kids to Tinkertown ...." Indeed.

KirkE266

Truly one of the quirkiest roadside attractions in America. Prodigious artist Ross Ward, who made his living as a circus painter, built a house out of 50,000 glass bottles, then spent forty years filling it with his wacky, hand-carved dioramas of western life. It's something that has to be seen to be believed. And yes, "Breaking Bad" fans, this is the place to which Walter White referred in the opening moments of the Emmy-winning "Ozymandias" episode when he phoned Skyler to say "let's head up Turquoise Trail and stop at Tinkertown, maybe grab some lunch in Madrid."

golem67

What an amazing place and tribute to one man's creativity. Appeals to children of all ages. Take quarters and feed the various exhibits. Worth the drive from Santa Fe and Albuquerque! Created by one man, the exhibits are detailed. See the circus area with it's owing parts. Use smart phones or video to capture the movement of the circus performers! May not be easy for strollers or wheel chairs

EJones1188

My fiance and I stopped here during our Route 66 road trip, and it was one of the highlights of the entire trip! I love the quirky, kitschy feel of this small museum. It is small, but it takes some time to get through and admire all of the details! Definitely worth the drive up there!

Loyal2Cubs

Yes it is relatively small in size, and it is showing age, and it is someone's passion on display, but...Dropped by on the way back to the airport. Wish we had more time to enjoy it and not hurried through. The widow of the designer could not have been more kind and proud of her late husband's creation. Much time was dedicated to assembling these cute and historic items. He was said to be an interesting, intelligent, and funny man. It shows. She also said he had time for her and anyone else despite the obvious hours he expended in this.It is a must see if you are in the area. Not expensive and worth allowing yourself to momentarily get lost in the carnival-like atmosphere. Adults and collectors/'pickers' may appreciate it more, though kids would find fancy.

SamSafD

For $3.50 each, this was a great break during our ride from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. The museum has the coolest little oddities and is worth the quick stop if you are taking the scenic route (which I highly suggest).

melandtim10

This was a last minute stop for me and my hubby on vacation. We loved it. It was so unique and different. All the work that was put into building this place is just unreal. It's hard to think that someone had that much time on their hands. But it's really awesome for all of us to explore. And it's only $3.50 per person. Not bad. Be sure to bring quarters. They have old machines that still work. Definitely worth a visit.