1886

Carnahan Family Dollhouse

For the past century dollhouses have been used primarily for children's play, but have also been collect-ing and crafting hobbies for many adults. Detailed dollhouses include representations of common house-hold items and family possessions as well as inhabitants, both people and animals.

This elegant, Victorian wooden dollhouse was a Christmas present in 1886 from William and Clara Carnahan to their daughters Clara and Virginia, who named the residents of the dollhouse the "Aldrich Family." The house was constructed by Charles Muehlenbruck, a cabinet maker who was an employee at Carnahan, Hanna & Company, Mr. Carnahan's wholesale boot and shoe firm. Many of the furnishings were purchased by Mrs. Carnahan when she traveled with her husband to New York and Boston.

This detailed home is divided into six rooms with a center entrance hall and stairway to the second floor. The kitchen is on the right; the dining room on the left. Upstairs, the upper hall is in the center with a parlor on the left and bedroom on right. The Aldrich doll family, made of bisque, continues to live in the home. Several decades after the dollhouse was presented to the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, electricity was added to allow museum visitors to easily view the extraordinary detail and crafts-manship.