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On the lot where the Cathedral of St. Philip’s members now park their cars once stood a mansion-turned-toy museum.
The Toy Museum of Atlanta, located in a Victorian mansion, first opened its doors in 1978. The museum was owned by Joe Daole and Patsy Powers – restaurateurs who had decorated many of their restaurants with toys. The museum’s impressive collection featured 19th-century antiques and rare items, including dollhouses standing nine feet tall and piped for gas and running water.
After the home was purchased by the cathedral in 1984, the collection was auctioned off in 1986 for over $6 million.
– Mark C. McDonald, The Georgia Trust
5 comments
I have a poster from the toy museum, signed by the artist
1978
WONDER if it has any value
So sad to hear everything was sold off. After returning to GA in 1980 , we visited the Toy Museum many times with our children and parents.The best collection I have ever seen of toys and doll houses.
i WAS in kindergarten when the toy museum open. My class took a field trip there. I don’t remember a whole lot of what I saw but I remember large doll houses and several old dolls. What a nice little reminder to find today.
I just heard about this museum from a couple visitors to our toy museum. My wife, Sandy and I have opened a small toy museum in Franklin, NC. It is located in a school turned into a heritage center. We are small but have a lot of toys. i started collecting in 1950 with my first model a Revell Rolls Royce. I still have it and many more I built. Sandy collected construction equipment toys. We have pedal cars, pressed steel, diecast and other types of vehicles, many dolls and girls play accessories and other types of toys. Our oldest piece is a pair of 1884 wooden roller skates. We are open Thursday, Friday 10-4 and Saturday 10-2. Other times by appointment.
I just found one of the old posters myself in (2019) while doing the FLEA ACROSS FLORIDA. Framed from 1980 and also signed by the artist.