Oklahoma
The Toy and Action Figure Museum
- States:
- Oklahoma
The world's only museum devoted solely to the art and collection of action figures.
Located in the quiet town of Paul’s Valley, Oklahoma, The Toy and Action Figure Museum celebrates the bright, wild world of action figures with a cacophonous collection of plastic characters.
The museum is partitioned into different sections, including a collection of cartoon artwork from famous Oklahoma illustrators, and a room known as the “Batcave” that features nothing but Batman-related figures and collectibles. The museum holds over 13,000 distinct action figures, many of which have never been taken out of their packages.
The main attraction of the museum is the sprawling central diorama, which features thousands of figures from every imaginable franchise. Spider-Man swings past a hanging X-Wing fighter while Psycho Man makes an entrance onto a Peewee’s Playhouse playset. The effect is one of childish joy.
Nearly five years before the museum’s 2005 opening, Paul’s Valley started an initiative called Vision 2010, the goal of which was to create attractions that would drive local tourism. To this end, local toy designer Kevin Stark began working on The Toy and Action Figure Museum that stands today. Stark was able to open the museum as a fully accredited nonprofit, the only official museum of its kind in the world.
In addition to all of the toys on permanent display at the museum, visitors can pick up some action figures of their own at the site’s gift shop, or should we say toy store.
Know Before You Go
The museum is open seven days a week, but hours are shorter on Sundays.
Content originally created for Atlas Obscura.
