Entry No. 27 — the Columbus file — filed under: records
The Doll Museum at the Old Rectory
Housed in a historic 1845 rectory, this highly specialized museum displays a distinguished collection of 19th and 20th-century dolls, including rare French fashion models and a doll made from a wishbone.
The story
You don't expect an 1845 Greek Revival rector's house—complete with cherry siding, a cherry staircase, and black walnut trim cut to resemble Egyptian columns—to be hauled down the road on a flatbed trailer in 1978. But the Worthington Historical Society moved the former St. John's Episcopal rectory to West New England Avenue to save it from demolition, eventually turning its upper rooms into a home for miniature human figures.
Inside glass display cases, you'll find porcelain monarchs, unglazed parian marble China dolls, and 19th-century French fashion models fitted with wigs made from actual human hair. If that sounds unsettling, look for the most unconventional artifact in the building: a doll carved directly out of a dried bird wishbone. Nearby, tin 'Newlywed Rooms' manufactured by Louis Marx & Co. in the 1920s show bent-metal dollhouse furniture crimped together with tiny tabs, alongside rotating displays tracking American toy history from 1830s patent dolls to vintage Barbies.
What it's like
You enter through the Shop at the Old Rectory on the main floor—where you can buy actual dried mix for 'Worthington Bean Soup' alongside consigned silver and glassware—before paying $4 for a self-guided museum pass and printed color guide. The atmosphere upstairs is dead quiet except for the creak of 19th-century floorboards underfoot. Volunteer staff leave you alone to browse, and the low lighting meant to protect fragile textiles adds to the hushed vibe. Plan to spend 30 to 45 minutes looking through the glass cases, and check their calendar before heading out—public access is strictly limited to Wednesday through Friday afternoons (1 to 4 p.m.) and Saturday mornings (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), and the museum closes entirely during January.
The move: Take a self-guided tour of their special 'American Icons' exhibition to trace the history and marketing of play through vintage Barbies, Raggedy Ann, and Shirley Temple dolls.
- 📍 Worthington
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 50 W New England Ave, Worthington, OH 43085
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Tranquility Salt Cave — Follow up an hour of peering at antique glass-eyed dolls with a quiet session inside a cavern walled with 10,000 pounds of Himalayan salt.
- Dragonbrush — Drive one mile south into Clintonville to trade 19th-century miniature fashion models for a bright green lawn dragon guarding a giant toothbrush.
- Sword in the Stone — Keep your tour of suburban oddities going by checking out a real steel sword embedded in a boulder on a nearby dental office lawn.
- Good Dea Craft School — Shift from inspecting historic handmade playthings to taking a hands-on workshop and making your own craft creation.
Good to know
How much is admission?
Self-guided tours cost $4 per person and include a printed color guide. Guided tours cost $5 per person and must be scheduled in advance with the Worthington Historical Society.
Where is the Doll Museum located and when can I visit?
It is located at 50 W New England Ave in Worthington, Ohio. Regular hours are Wednesday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is closed during January.
What types of dolls are in the collection?
The collection features 19th and 20th-century dolls, including French fashion models with real hair wigs, parian marble China dolls, tin Marx dollhouses, and a doll made from a wishbone.
Is there anything else inside the Old Rectory building?
Yes, the main floor houses the Shop at the Old Rectory, selling consigned vintage items and local history goods, along with the historical society's library and administrative offices.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: worthingtonhistory.org · ohio.org · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-21