When planning a trip, there is a lot to research. Finding destinations to explore can be time-consuming, and trying to discover everything that can be done requires considerable effort. However, even after conducting thorough research and being satisfied with the plan, I still miss a few things.
Our goal was to see the Museum of Miniature Houses and Other Collections. We visited the Midwest Miniatures Museum on our first real exploration of Michigan a couple of years earlier. We hoped to have a similar experience in this one in the town of Indiana.
Sometimes the best way to appreciate a museum is to take the time to read and to listen. Here, with all the various types of miniatures, it was easy to just look and leave. However, we decided to do the audio tour, which did elevate our time here. Because of the audio guide, we saw things that would have been otherwise missed and learned why this miniature is of significance. We discovered a mini Andy Warhol painting, which we had missed when searching on our own, and learned that the Addams Family model held a world record. The museum was small compared to some we have visited, but because everything was so well-curated, it packed a lot into the seven rooms.
It was easy to think that these are elaborate dollhouses when visiting here, but the quality, detail, and the amount of time it must have taken to build one of these meant that these miniatures are works of art. These miniatures are designed to replicate a real-life-sized building with matching furnishings. The best ones do everything possible to match the furniture, artwork, and even lighting to what the original building was like. When looking at these, it was apparent that there was a large amount of talent and a level of patience that neither Charlene nor I have to try to reproduce our own mini.
We were very impressed with this small museum, which showcases a wide range of miniature items. The admission was very reasonable, and we appreciated the audio tour. The part we were excited about doing was where we parked.
Driving into Carmel, Indiana, we saw a statue that looked very familiar. It was from our ‘Trying Not To Freeze To Death While Camping‘ experience, which we had during March Break. We were passing through Hamilton, OH, when something caught our eye, and we had to pull over and see what it was. One of the more eye-catching statues depicted a father teaching his daughter to ride a bike. At first glance, one could easily think these were real people. In Carmel, we parked beside a similarly themed statue.
There are so many places to explore, and sometimes there is a painful decision to intentionally skip a destination simply because it doesn’t fit into the itinerary I’ve made. At other times, like in Hamilton, Ohio, and here in Carmel, Indiana, I simply had no idea these towns appreciated art and had done a great deal to make their area more appealing. This was a pleasant surprise both times, and this time, in Carmel, we took the extra time to explore the downtown core and find as much as we could.
Looking for these was actually more difficult than I thought it would be. The area was rather busy. People walking around, all doing their thing, made it difficult to find these life-sized and life-like statues of people also doing their thing. The only way we discovered to spot them was that they were the only “people” not moving. This impromptu exploration of this community was a real bonus. We would find the website, and after walking much of the downtown core, we only missed two of these well-crafted artworks.
I like it when a trip of ours brings an unexpected bonus. The Miniature Museum was a real treat in itself, but the life-sized statues really made our time complete.
- Find the Museum of Miniature Houses and Other Collections on the All The Places We Have Been map.
- The website for Hamilton, Ohio and its artwork.
- If you are out and about and make a discovery, take the time to investigate it. It may become a nice bonus, like our discovery of these statues.
