Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle is a fairy dream home adapted to fantastic proportions. This elaborate miniature house was created in the 1930s by silent film star Colleen Moore, fulfilling her childhood fascination with doll houses. The Fairy Castle, filled with remarkable miniatures and artifacts, is a timeless reminder of the imagination, ingenuity and craftsmanship of cultures and artisans all over the world. It became a permanent exhibit when it was donated to the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI) in 1949, where it is situated on the Lower Level.
The Fairy Castle is displayed behind glass, and the light, temperature and humidity in its environment are carefully controlled to ensure that the artifacts will be preserved for generations to come. Millions of guests have enjoyed their visit to the castle since it first arrived at the Museum, and an audio tour provides guests details of the castle’s many rooms and treasures. The 9-square-foot castle features about 1,500 miniatures and cost nearly $500,000 at the time it was created. It will delight you with its tiny treasures, including:
· - A painting done by Walt Disney himself, along with a dozen other pieces of original artwork from various artists
· - The tiniest Bible ever to be written, dating back to 1840
· - The dining room contains a replica of King Arthur’s round table
· - Three statues of the Goddess Isis—more than 4,000 years old—in the Great Hall
"Choose a job you love and you will not have to work a day in your life" (Confucius)
The Chapel: The silver throne is a copy of the famous English throne in Westminster Abbey. The statue on the pedestal to the right is a bust of Pope Pius IX, and on the bottom is the seal of the Vatican. On the prayer bench in front of the altar is a small Bible printed in 1840. (Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago) Exterior of Castle and Courtyard: It took seven years to create this awe-inspiring miniature house, which measures almost 9 feet. (Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago)
The Great Hall: The Great Hall is the largest room in the house. The ceiling of the Great Hall is painted in scenes from fairy tales. Over the door, at the back of the room, is a mural of the pied Piper of Hamlin - with the children climbing up the wall to get to him. The knights in armor, at each side of the door, are silver and came from the collection of Rudolph Valentino, a famous motion picture actor. (Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago)
The Magic Garden: The Cradle that sits on the rocking tree was one of Moore's favorite artifacts in the Magic Garden. It was made with jewelry that Moore inherited from her grandmother. (Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago)
The Prince's Bathroom: Also located upstairs is the prince’s bathroom, adorned in alabaster and gold. Mermaid sculptures perch on the corner of the bath. (Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago) The Princess' Bathroom: The princess' bathroom tells the story of Undine, a water spirit, on its crystal walls, and the tub is silver. The room is located directly above the kitchen and next to the princess' bedroom. (Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago)
Colleen Moore with Fairy Castle: Silent film star Colleen Moore was always fascinated with dolls and doll houses. Beginning in 1928, Moore enlisted the help of many talented professionals to help her create the doll house of her dreams, which became the Fairy Castle. After the castle was complete, it toured the country raising money for children’s charities. It then came to the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago in 1949, where it has delighted millions of guests. (Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago)