Tiny treasures of the Fairy Castle

 Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle is a fairy dream home adapted to fantastic proportions. This elaborate miniature house was created in the 1930s by silent film star Colleen Moore, fulfilling her childhood fascination with doll houses. The Fairy Castle, filled with remarkable miniatures and artifacts, is a timeless reminder of the imagination, ingenuity and craftsmanship of cultures and artisans all over the world. It became a permanent exhibit when it was donated to the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI) in 1949, where it is situated on the Lower Level.

The Fairy Castle is displayed behind glass, and the light, temperature and humidity in its environment are carefully controlled to ensure that the artifacts will be preserved for generations to come. Millions of guests have enjoyed their visit to the castle since it first arrived at the Museum, and an audio tour provides guests details of the castle’s many rooms and treasures. The 9-square-foot castle features about 1,500 miniatures and cost nearly $500,000 at the time it was created. It will delight you with its tiny treasures, including:

·        - A painting done by Walt Disney himself, along with a dozen other pieces of original artwork from various artists

·        - The tiniest Bible ever to be written, dating back to 1840

·        - The dining room contains a replica of King Arthur’s round table

·        - Three statues of the Goddess Isis—more than 4,000 years old—in the Great Hall

The Fairy Castle will be undergo a major conservation beginning in late fall 2013. The hundreds of tiny artifacts that are usually hidden in the castle will be on full public view, and the public will get to interact with conservators as the castle is taken apart and preserved room by room. It’s going to be a very unique way to see all the many nuances of this amazing piece! (Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago)