Largest collection of dolls & teddy bears in 150 display cases
and the largest research library of related books in the world

Free Admission for Senior Citizens and 50% Discount for All Others

Admission is free for senior citizens and admission fees are reduced for all others. Normally, you have the museum all to yourself during these new hours:

Friday and Saturday: 11a.m-4p.m. (open to the public)
Sunday to Thursday: 11a.m.-4p.m. (by appointment)

Appointments for private visits can be made by contacting us at 805-687-4623 or sq@quinlanmuseum.com. If we are not in the office, please leave a message (your name & phone number). We will return your call within 24 hours.

Directions: Driving to Santa Barbara from the north or south on Highway US 101 and take the Carrillo St. exit (exit 98). Go east along Carrillo St. for three blocks to De La Vina St. Turn right and go one block to Canon Perdido St. Turn left and go a half-block to the Museum at 122 W. Canon Perdido St. There is 75-minute street parking and free parking at the 50 W. Canon Perdido St. garage.

Special Shopping and Free Gifts During the Holidays

Try something different in Santa Barbara during the holidays. The Museum Gift Shop has many Christmas decorations, toys, dolls and bears not found anywhere else in California. Check out the Sales Table. After shopping, visit the largest museum of its kind in the U.S. with over 4,000 dolls and bears on view in 150 display cases to relive your childhood. Children accompanying adults receive a free doll or teddy bear (selected from the Children’s Tables starting November 27th) – good way to spend some time with your children and grandchildren. Boys especially enjoy the Star Wars and Toys of Our Childhood collections.

Why Visit This Museum?

What makes this Museum unique in the world of dolls and teddy bears? No other museum in the world offers all of these features and attractions:
• One of the largest doll museums in the U.S.
• Largest teddy bear museum in the U.S.
• Largest doll and teddy bear library in the world
• Most frequent visitor response: “I need to come back. There is just so much to see.”
• Admission includes option of a personally conducted tour by the owner, Susan Quinlan
• Hand-painted wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor murals
• Voted “best display cases”
• Handicapped accessible
• One of the best educational websites

News & Events

Museum’s First Revolving Display

Since 2005 the museum only had room for permanent displays. There was no room for revolving displays where the content of the cases could be changed periodically with new dolls and teddy bears that were sitting in storage. With the new cases recently installed, there is a large section of cases used entirely for revolving displays. The first revolving display is called “Toys of Our Childhood” that covers toys of the 20th century. The display is based on the toys that have been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at the Strong Museum, and includes additions from the Quinlan Museum collection.

New Doll & Teddy Bear Artist Section

There is also another section among the new cases reserved for displaying artist dolls and teddy bears. Most visitors to the museum have never heard of one-of-a-kind dolls and teddy bears that are made mostly by women artists. Now they can see in one place a heavy concentration of pieces made by many of the best doll and bear artists in the world. It is an art gallery within a museum. If you are inclined to support an industry that is dominated by women, this would be a good one to get behind. Drop into the museum anytime it is open and Susan Quinlan will be happy to give you a crash course on artist dolls and teddy bears. One distinct advantage to collecting the work of contemporary artists is that you can actually meet them and discuss their work and their inspirations with them.

What People Said About Their Visit to the Museum

My Fondest Doll & Teddy Bear Memories

In the early 1960's the doll house at the Smithsonian was ever fascinating to me. I lived in Virginia and relished every visit to it. Another time there was a miniature exhibit, I believe at the FBI building, and it had doll items, etc. among its treasures. I always remember one exhibit you saw through a magnifying glass and it was bride and groom fleas with the bride dressed up in a full white gown and the groom in a tuxedo. Moving across the country the Chicago Museum doll house was unbelievable to see with books signed by famous authors, diamond chandeliers…! Coming to Santa Barbara (SB) and seeing the Susan Quinlan Doll and Teddy Bear Museum was a dream come true. There were so many beautiful dolls from my childhood...Shirley Temple, Madame Alexander and many others plus beautiful ones I had only dreamed of ever seeing and historical ones that brought previous generations directly to us. Not only were the dolls fantastic but the scenes made them very alive. I took sets of children through and everyone was enchanted beyond words. We could not believe how lucky SB is to have this museum. It brings magic to SB. We recently enjoyed the Christmas Tree exhibit. The gift shop is outstanding. Setting up this museum has been a gift to SB and the Nation.
– Kimberly Morales, Santa Barbara, January 2017

Click HERE for more comments about recent experiences of visitors to the Susan Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Museum.

Free Issues of Museum Newsletters

Click on the following links for past issues of the Quinlan Museum Doll & Teddy Bear Newsletter

If you wish to receive future Newsletter issues, just send us your email address and/or postal address to: terry@quinlanmuseum.com or Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Museum, P. O. Box 3218, Santa Barbara, CA 93130

Books Featured at the Museum

Reference Guide to Research on Dollhouses and Miniatures (320 pages) $9.95
written by Susan Quinlan & published by Susan Quinlan Museum
Book has annotations of 1,242 books about dollhouses & dollhouse dolls.
Click HERE for more details.

NIADA Art Dolls, Rich Traditions, New Ideas (432 pages) $34.95
co-published by Susan Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Museum
Book illustrates over 630 dolls by 160 NIADA doll artists.
Click HERE for more details.

Young San Franciscan Sandboxes, From the Mud Grew Lotuses (534 pages) $19.95
written and published by Terence Quinlan
Book for young children facing their personal challenges in order to develop character, confidence, courage, humility, independence, integrity, loyalty, patriotism, pride, responsibility and self-motivation.
Click HERE for more details.  

Place your book order at sq@quinlanmuseum.com or (805) 687-8901.