We love roadside Americana and there is literally no better example of that than TinkerTown Museum just outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. TinkerTown Museum is an eclectic collection of hand-carved miniatures, many of which are animated, unique coin-operated novelties, history and even a sail boat that sailed around the world.

What is TinkerTown Museum

On the road to Sandia Crest on the eastern side of the Sandia Mountain Range, TinkerTown Museum is a collection of thousands of miniatures created by Ross Ward. There are a number of collections in the exhibit to walk through.

Among the first collections is a miniature western town that spans at least 30 feet in length. In some ways these are like tiny Hollywood sets where the front of the buildings are removed so you can see the silliness that’s going on inside.

Adding to the creativity and whimsy of the small figures are buttons to push to animate the displays. A press of the button might get a group in a western tavern to raise their glasses; even a donkey does so.

The miniatures go on and on where you can see a miniature customer getting their miniature hair cut in a barber shop, buy tiny groceries at the five and dime and so much more. The number of things to see, the incredible detail and just the passion that created this place is incredible.

You might walk past the town once and see one thing but a second, third or fourth trip along the displays will yield other treats for your eyes. The depth of these displays is amazing.

As you meander through the unusual building there are signs and coin-operated items all over. The floor is a plank floor that has been repaired with license plates from all over the place. On the walls are signs and there’s even a pair of shoes and pants that were the actual possessions of Louie Moilanen, who was once the world’s tallest man.

To coin a phrase

You’ll want to get quarters at the entrance, if you don’t have them already. They do give you one as part of your admission fee but you’ll absolutely want more and you can buy two bucks worth from the nice lady at the door.

Ward collected all sorts of coin-operated machines including fortune tellers, an orchestron, an animated grave yard and even a band that serenades you for just 25 cents as you find your way to the beginning of the maze that is TinkerTown.

One of the amazing things, to me, is that all of the coin-operated machines work as they should. Someone is doing a yeoman’s job with maintenance and cleaning here because the displays aren’t dusty or tired looking at all and the coin-operated machines operate.

Circus acts

Perhaps the most elaborate of all the displays is a circus that is so large, it spans both sides of the walk way.

Under the big top are all the things you’d love in a traditional circus including lions and tigers and bears. Oh my.

Push one of the buttons and miniature dogs continuously jump through a hoop held by a clown while daredevils hang from the trapeze. There are bears on a see-saw. There have to be over 1,000 figures and scenes in the combined displays that make-up the circus here.

In fact the circus figures are the first ones Ward carved as he started his journey capturing the unique things in his world in miniature.

Bottled-up

This entire building is made up of bottles of all sorts encased in concrete. Carla Ward was at the counter of the gift shop when we were there and she said that the Wards used to be the unofficial recycling center for the area. Bottles of all sorts came to the property.

Eventually some 50,000 of those bottles found a new profession as building materials for the TinkerTown Museum. The unique walls of bottles with their varying colors, sizes and textures provide an interesting light to the space and are just exactly what you’d expect as walls here.

In some ways the path through the museum reminds me a bit of wandering through the House of Mystery in California only in that the path is circuitous and meandering. It’s not at all obvious what’s around the next bend but you know you’re anxious to go see just what’s coming.

Set sail for adventure

The number of miniatures, coin operated displays, signs, posters and art aren’t the only thing worth seeing here. And, clearly, the family has an adventurous spirit.

That is played out as you round one of the many bends and come to a 35-foot sail boat that was sailed around the world by another member of the family. Fritz Damler sailed the 35’ Theodora R around the world for over a decade. Not only is the boat on display here but a huge map that traces the adventure and includes things like “shark attack,” “cheapest beer,” and even where Damler had to have emergency surgery.

History of TinkerTown Museum

TinkerTown Museum is the creation of Ross Ward who spent some 40 years constructing and designing the exhibits.

This all started as Ward carved miniature figures in his spare time starting in junior high. Throughout his life he continued to carve the miniatures until he put them together in a collection that then became a carnival side show that he would exhibit at various fairs, carnivals and other events.

Ward’s creativity was expressed in miniature form but also in real life as the self-taught artist became heralded as a painter for carnivals. Those elaborate paintings that emblazoned the sides of carnival rides and wagons were often the result of Ward’s handiwork.

As mentioned, Ross Ward used to have a mobile version of TinkerTown but the display became ever more elaborate and finally he settled on the current location in 1963. Ward continued to evolve and add to the collection indoors and out. There is an authentic chuckwagon, plenty of mining memorabilia and all the miniatures and coin operated goodies.

Unfortunately Ross Ward was diagnosed with dementia at the young age of 57 and his daughter left her career to return to New Mexico and tend to him. Ward passed away in 2002. The family continues to operate TinkerTown, and we even got to meet several members.

My thoughts

This is one of those places that has so much on display and is such a joy to visit that one visit absolutely will not be sufficient. Some of the friends we’ve made since moving to New Mexico told us they’ve been many, many times and I’m sure that will be us as well.

Other links

• We visited TinkerTown Museum on our way up to the peak of the Sandia Mountains. You can learn about the geology of Sandia Mountains in this RVing Geologist article.

• LA Times story about Tanya Ward Goodman coming home to take care of Ross Ward after his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

• Story on Roadside America about TinkerTown