Trier toy museum offers fun for young and old Published Sept. 13, 2010 By Iris Reiff 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Toys have always been the world in miniature. In the 18th and 19th centuries there were simple wooden and moving toys. At the turn of the century, after the technical revolution, cars came into the nursery and in the 50s there were tremendous innovations reflected in the toys of today. Dolls, too, have changed according to the fashion of the day. A visit to Trier's most popular Spielzeugmuseum, or toy museum, is a step back into the history of toys. More than 5,000 items can be found on three floors and on a 500-square-meter surface, including an impressive doll collection, stuffed animals, mechanical toys, cars, airplanes, playing and dancing figures, a steam locomotive, trains, a large toy zoo, toys that relate to aerospace and space travel and much more. The museum presently hosts a special Trix train display, by Robert Schroeder, until Oct. 31. Trier's Spielzeugmuseum is open daily, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., April-December and 11 a.m.-5 p.m., January-March. The museum is closed on Mondays. Entry to the museum is 4 euro for adults; 2 euro for youngsters, age 11-18, and 1,50 Euro for children, age 4-11. Families with two adults and up to five children pay a total of 10 Euro. For groups of 10 people and more, adults pay 2,50 euro, youngsters pay 1,50 and children pay 1 euro to get into the museum. The museum is located right in the heart of the city in the main market square, on Dietrichstrasse 51. Additional information is available at 0651-75850.