See a fascinating collection of more than 1,000 handcrafted Mexican toys at La Esquina Mexican Folk Toy Museum. These toys were amassed over a period of 50 years by the museum's owner and showcase the skills, imagination and creativity of the country’s artisans.
The museum presents its toys in five main exhibition rooms organised according to the regions they come from. Visit Jugando a la Casita, the first room, for its variety of dolls made from different materials and miniature furniture pieces. See scaled-down versions of kitchen appliances and other items that allow children to imitate the household chores that their parents perform.
Go to the Geografia Del Juguete room to look at toys that have previously been entered into national competitions. These toys are made of ceramics, textiles, cardboard and other materials. Inside the Amigos Inolvidables room, find toys related to transportation and representations of animals in wood, clay and cardboard.
Browse the masks, musical instruments and model fairground rides in the La Feria room. Then take your children to the multimedia area where they can play computer games based on the museum's collection. Another room is set aside for temporary exhibitions and displays of the winning submissions to the Mexican Toy Contest.
The museum is located in San Miguel de Allende's central zone and has no parking facilities. If you are driving, pay to park in one of the nearby lots. Alternatively, walk from your base in the city. The museum is only a short distance from other popular attractions, such as Juarez Park and El Jardin, the main square. At this central plaza, a small branch of the museum has toys for sale.
La Esquina Mexican Folk Toy Museum is open every day except Mondays. Admission charges apply, with discounts for children, students and teachers. Book a free guided tour in advance. Tours are included in the price of admission, with an extra charge if an English-speaking guide is required.
