Ankara Toy Museum

Ankara Toy Museum is a cultural museum located in the capital of Türkiye, presenting toys from different historical periods through thematic displays. Founded in 1990 by collector Şerafettin Yıldız, the museum has been operating since 2017 within the Altındağ Municipality in the Hamamönü neighborhood. As one of Türkiye’s first private toy museums, it aims to evoke nostalgia among adults and provide cultural memory to children.

Location and Architecture

The museum is housed in a restored traditional Ankara house in the Hamamönü district, one of Ankara’s historic settlement areas. The two-story building is divided into thematic rooms, with toys arranged according to their historical period, geographic origin, and type. The rooms are enhanced with display cases, informational panels, wall exhibits, interactive screens, and dedicated play areas for children.

Ankara Toy Museum (AA)

Collection and Thematic Sections

The collection of the Ankara Toy Museum includes a wide range of toys spanning from the 1800s to the 2000s. A significant portion of the collection consists of the private accumulation built by Şerafettin Yıldız over more than 30 years. The collection comprises approximately 3,000 different toys.

Main thematic areas

• Wooden Toys Hall: Handmade toy cars, dolls, and animal figures are displayed.
• Metal Toys Gallery: Trains, war figures, and wind-up toys are featured.
• Plastic Era: Mass-produced figures from after 1980 such as Barbie and G.I. Joe are exhibited.
• Cultural Figures Section: Local characters such as Nasreddin Hoca and Keloğlan are represented.
• World Toys Section: Examples from countries including Germany, Japan, and the United States are presented.
• Fabric Toys and Dolls Room: Traditional Anatolian fabric dolls and plush toys are on display.

Education and Visitor Experience

The museum offers educational activities for children including school tours, thematic workshops, cartoon screenings, and instruction in traditional games. Seminars and exhibitions themed “Generations Grown with Toys” are also organized for adults.

Among the most popular areas for visitors are the “nostalgia wall” and the “build your own toy” workshop. At the museum, adults experience a journey into the past as much as children do.

Ankara Toy Museum (AA)

Cultural and Social Significance

Toys are not merely play objects; they are artifacts that reflect the production technologies, pedagogical approaches, and cultural values of their time. In this regard, the Ankara Toy Museum contributes to the documentation of childhood folklore in Türkiye.