Behind the Scenes Dollhouse Tour

This summer, explore the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts’ vault for the rare opportunity to experience the Elizabeth Johnston Prime Dollhouse Collection, a unique assemblage of 44 antique structures highlighting 100 years of architectural and decorative arts history.

Please Note: The guided Behind the Scenes Dollhouse Tour is for ages 14 and older and limited to only eight attendees per tour.

The Behind the Scenes Dollhouse Tour provides exclusive access to the Prime Dollhouse Collection, which features a variety of antique structures including dollhouses, stores, stables, mansions and verandas representing every decade between 1830 and 1930. The 19th and early 20th-century works of art are complemented by an extensive collection of more than 6,000 meticulously crafted miniature pieces, including dolls, furniture, paintings, animals, rugs, dishes and chandeliers. Prime, who donated the collection to HBMS and the Kemerer Museum in 2007, was so precise in her collecting that she only put pieces in each house that were period-appropriate, right down to the chinaware.

Among the dollhouses in the collection are exquisite houses created by renowned dollhouse designers from Germany such as Moritz Gottschalk and Christian Hacker. The oldest house in the collection, constructed in 1830, has a storied history that includes floating down the Allegheny River in western Pennsylvania. The cabinet house, made in Warren County, Pa., is made of mahogany and includes all the original furniture and accessories.

Tour Dates

Saturday, Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 11 at 12 p.m.(noon) and 1:15 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 18 at 12 p.m.(noon) and 1:15 p.m.

The Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, 427 N. New St., Bethlehem, is one of only 15 decorative arts museums in the country. All of the pieces in the Elizabeth Johnston Prime Dollhouse Collection are housed in an environmentally controlled vault that protects the works of art from moisture, temperature changes and potential damage. For more information, visit historicbethlehem.org.