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Walk through history as we guide you to things to learn, places to discover, and events that help connect us to our rich heritage.
Visit the Art of the Dollhouse Exhibition
Visit the Art of the Dollhouse exhibition at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts opening October 22 and look at how miniature homes have shaped our ideas about domestic life over three centuries. The multi-floor exhibition draws from the Elizabeth Johnston Prime Dollhouse Collection, along with loans from private collectors and public institutions. It’s a show for decorative arts enthusiasts, design-curious day-trippers, and families who want to see the world rendered at one-twelfth scale. Here the dollhouse isn’t a toy; it is a cultural object that quietly records how we’ve imagined home.
Antique dollhouse tour
Step inside a museum vault and enjoy exclusive access to one of America’s largest and finest antique dollhouse collections on this dollhouse tour. The dollhouse collection at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts features 44 historic miniature structures, including dollhouses, stores, stables, mansions and verandas, all created between 1830 and the early 1930s. Inside each house are thousands of meticulously crafted details, from hand-painted China dishes and delicately carved furniture to tiny rugs, paintings, animals and chandeliers. Together, these scenes highlight more than a century of architecture, design and craftsmanship in miniature form.
This rare behind-the-scenes tour in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania is a can’t-miss for doll enthusiasts and is a great day trip activity from New York City or Philadelphia.
What you’ll see at the antique dollhouse tour
On the Kemerer Museum’s “Behind the Scenes Dollhouse Tour,” you will discover a fine collection of miniature buildings all built prior to 1933. The collection includes dollhouses up to 5 feet tall, as well as shops, a train station, row homes and more. Many of the houses were designed by well-known German dollhouse markers such as Moritz Gottschalk and Christian Hacker, while others reflect architecture from England, France, and across the United States.
As you look inside the structures, you will see thousands of carefully crafted miniature details, from dolls and furniture to woven rugs, China dishes and tiny paintings arranged just as they would be in real homes. Some houses even feature working lighting and delicate chandeliers with handmade miniature candles. You will also come across scenes such as a 19th-century spice store stocked with tiny goods, and wooden stables complete with horses and detailed stalls.
The oldest dollhouse in the collection is built inside a mahogany cabinet and dates back to 1830. Opening the cabinet doors reveals an Empire-style American house featuring detailed woodwork and period furnishings that reflect early 19th-century design. Adding to the mystique of the piece, the cabinet was reported to have floated down the Allegheny River.
Tour Location
Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, 427 N. New Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Tour Dates and Times
Saturdays, April 4 & 25; May 9, 16 & 23; June 13, 20 & 27; July 11; August 15, 22 & 29 at 11:30 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM. Thursdays, June 18 & 25 at 11:30 AM and 1 PM; July 9 at 2 PM, and 4 PM.
Tickets and Pricing
$30; $25 for Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Members
The Elizabeth Johnston Prime Collection
The vast majority of dollhouses at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts come from the Elizabeth Johnston Prime Collection. Johnston Prime was born in 1927 and had a strong family connection to Bethlehem, PA. Her grandfather served as a vice president of Bethlehem Steel Corp. and later became the city’s first mayor. She began collecting antique dollhouses and miniatures in her early 40s and spent decades building one of the largest private dollhouse collections in the United States.
As her collection grew, Johnston Prime needed to add an apartment to house all of the miniature structures and thousands of related pieces. When Johnston Prime died in 2006, she bequeathed the collection to Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites. The donation included 44 antique dollhouses and miniature buildings, along with more than 6,000 miniature objects such as dolls, furniture, paintings, rugs and dishes.
Preserving history in miniature
The dollhouses and miniature objects in the Kemerer Museum collection are all at least 90 years old, so they require careful preservation. The structures and their thousands of tiny furnishings are kept inside the Kemerer Museum’s $2.6-million Collections Resource Center, a controlled storage vault that protects them from harsh lighting and temperature and humidity changes. Museum staff carefully monitor and maintain the collection so that these detailed miniature scenes can continue to be studied and enjoyed for years to come. Due to the delicate nature of these miniature masterpieces, only a limited number of dollhouse tours are offered each year.
What visitors say
“We loved how friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable our guide was. We loved that we didn’t feel rushed and could really take in all of the details.”
“The docent was quite knowledgeable about the dollhouses and their history. It was a fascinating view into life and play in the prior centuries.”
Bethlehem’s dollhouse tour featured in the news
6ABC News Philadelphia: The Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts is home to over 40 antique dollhouses
Philly Voice: Rare antique dollhouses will come out of the vault for limited tours in Bethlehem
Plan your visit: FAQs
Is this tour wheelchair accessible?
The Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts is ADA accessible and equipped with a wheelchair-accessible elevator.
The entrance to the dollhouse collection on the second floor is accessible for wheelchair users and mobility devices. If you require special assistance, please contact Manager of Programs & Volunteers Charlotte Filiciotto at [email protected] in advance so we can ensure a comfortable visit.
Can I take photos?
Cameras are permitted but flash photography and video are prohibited.
Where should I park?
Limited free parking is available in the lot at the rear of the Kemerer Museum, accessible from the intersection of West Wall and North New Streets. Additional parking is found in the City of Bethlehem parking garages. The closest option is the Walnut Street Garage, located a short walk from the museum.
Can I book a private tour?
Yes, you can book a private tour for up to eight people by contacting Visitor Experience Manager Rachel Bell at [email protected], or filling out an online inquiry form. Rates begin at $40 per person with a six (6) person minimum.
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