The Spearfish Area Historical Society has done an outstanding job of pulling in some great speakers. SAHS meets monthly and you'll find some photographs and information from more recent meetings below. Please note that this is not an official site for the society. You may click on each photo below to see a larger image.
That dapper gent in the photograph could possibly be Rex Harrison from My Fair Lady -- or not! In any event, he's one of hundreds of splendid miniature dolls and accessories contained in the Johanna Meier collection in Spearfish.
Johanna opened the museum for special daytime society tours, and then she gave a splendid evening program. It was wonderful December meeting, so appropriate for the Christmas holidays!
If you click on most of these photographs (even the one here) you'll be able to see a larger image and will probably get a chance to see many of the miniature items contained in the Dolls at Home Museum.
Johanna opened the museum for special daytime society tours, and then she gave a splendid evening program. It was wonderful December meeting, so appropriate for the Christmas holidays!
If you click on most of these photographs (even the one here) you'll be able to see a larger image and will probably get a chance to see many of the miniature items contained in the Dolls at Home Museum.
The Dolls at Home Museum and Gift Shop is perched back off of Meier Avenue in south Spearfish, South Dakota, adjacent to the Passion Play grounds. The address is 435 Meier Avenue.
In recent years, the museum has been open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but has been accessible at other times by appointment.
Johanna Meier says they plan to open "By Appointment" only during the coming year.
Spearfish Area Historical Society (SAHS) members were afforded specially-guided tours during the morning and afternoon of December 2, 2008.
In recent years, the museum has been open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but has been accessible at other times by appointment.
Johanna Meier says they plan to open "By Appointment" only during the coming year.
Spearfish Area Historical Society (SAHS) members were afforded specially-guided tours during the morning and afternoon of December 2, 2008.
Dolls have been around for a long time, according to Johanna, dating back many hundreds of years. She recounted how many dollhouses have been fine-tuned down to the smallest detail -- even including running water!
She told of early-day movie actress Colleen Moore, whose career was highly successful, but who eventually turned her attention to miniatures.
Moore's most famous dollhouse is the Fairy Castle, which was some seven years in the making. Although Ms. Moore died in 1988, her Fairy Castle remains a popular destination at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.
She told of early-day movie actress Colleen Moore, whose career was highly successful, but who eventually turned her attention to miniatures.
Moore's most famous dollhouse is the Fairy Castle, which was some seven years in the making. Although Ms. Moore died in 1988, her Fairy Castle remains a popular destination at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.
The dolls and dollhouses are very special to Johanna -- and perhaps none of them more special than this house. Standing about three feet high, she received it as a Christmas present when she was four year old.
Both her mother and grandmother had dolls, likely contributing to her long affection for the hobby!
Both her mother and grandmother had dolls, likely contributing to her long affection for the hobby!
One of the many dolls on display with the Meier collection. One can't help but be impressed by the clothing and other accessories. This chair caught my eye.
An SAHS member enjoys the detail of "Blackwood Hall," the re-creation of an English manor house during the early 1800s.
Such a structure was probably begun as a fortified castle in the 1700s and would have been enlarged by each successive generation that lived there. The title was conferred on the original Lord Blackwood by King Charles II in appreciation for the saving of his favorite little Spaniel during a coach accident.
If you look closely at the larger image, you may see the miniature dogs in the lower right room of the Hall.
Such a structure was probably begun as a fortified castle in the 1700s and would have been enlarged by each successive generation that lived there. The title was conferred on the original Lord Blackwood by King Charles II in appreciation for the saving of his favorite little Spaniel during a coach accident.
If you look closely at the larger image, you may see the miniature dogs in the lower right room of the Hall.
Johanna recalled how -- as a youngster -- she would find the quantities of fabrics kept stored away for use in making costumes for the Black Hills Passion Play.
She would snip pieces of the fabrics and make good use of it within her doll collection.
One can only imagine what her parents thought when they first saw that fabric was missing. Was it mice?
Of course, the missing evidence would eventually show up within Johanna's early doll collection.
She would snip pieces of the fabrics and make good use of it within her doll collection.
One can only imagine what her parents thought when they first saw that fabric was missing. Was it mice?
Of course, the missing evidence would eventually show up within Johanna's early doll collection.
From gazebos to churches, the structures in the Dolls at Home Museum are varied and many.
The detail is astounding. When you scrutinize the larger image here, you'll see the tiny musical instruments being used by the band at the gazebo.
Many international dollhouses are included in the collection, along with many one-of-a-kind pieces.
The detail is astounding. When you scrutinize the larger image here, you'll see the tiny musical instruments being used by the band at the gazebo.
Many international dollhouses are included in the collection, along with many one-of-a-kind pieces.
It's easy to spend the entire day in the museum -- and still not see everything.
As with many such exhibits, it seems new items are discovered each time you visit!
As with many such exhibits, it seems new items are discovered each time you visit!
Once a private home, Johanna says the museum also served as something of a residence for actors in the famous Passion Play, which ended a 76-year run last season.
The museum has expanded over the years, as witnessed by this shot of the garage. Johanna indicated that she hopes to annex the rest of the garage in the near future!
She credits her husband, Guido Della Vecchia, for his creativity and support in her quest to expand and enhance the collection.
The museum has expanded over the years, as witnessed by this shot of the garage. Johanna indicated that she hopes to annex the rest of the garage in the near future!
She credits her husband, Guido Della Vecchia, for his creativity and support in her quest to expand and enhance the collection.
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