American Toy Marble Museum Akron Ohio

Dyke s 1884 clay marble factory.

American toy marble museum akron ohio.

The original blue santa pictured here was found at lock 3 park in akron ohio during an archeological dig by the american toy marble museum. It was manufactured on the site by the american marble toy manufacturing co. Many of the museum s exhibits were dug out of the ground during its construction. In order to keep the engineering arts and games of american marbles alive the museum promotes quality playtime activities for children of all ages.

American toy marble museum. In the mid 1890s. It is a partner in akron after school and is working closely with the akron history exhibit the summit county historical society the university of akron archives the akron summit county public library. The success of dyke s akron toy company spurred other entrepreneurs to start up their own marble works in the akron area.

The first five and last eight marbles are made of common clay making them known as commies also found on the former site of the american marble and. On the very site where the first marbles were mass produced in the usa lock 3 park home of the american toy marble museum. The american toy marble museum is located in akron ohio where some of the earliest american marbles were produced. The first mass produced toy.

Dyke in 1891 in akron. To showcase its marble industry history for many years akron was home to the american toy marble museum since 1990 closing some years and then reopening at a different location in 2002 2015 at loch 3 park. The american toy marble museum preserves and disseminates through multimedia exhibitions and displays the history of the american toy industry in the city where it all started. The american toy marble museum is a chartered non profit organization of ohio but it does not compete for non profit foundation grants.

The museum enjoyed more than 40 000 visitors a year but staffing was voluntary and funding was limited. American toy marble museum closed the museum stood on the site formerly occupied by samuel c. Most of the below jugs pots boots and other miniature items might be difficult to recognize as toys today but childhood has changed remarkably in the past 120 years in part due to the mass production of children s products including toys. Of course their champions can compete at a nation wide finals in akron ohio.

The museum displays a wide range of marbles and other toys and tools from the industry.