Museum of International Folk Art

Lonely Planet review

Prepare to have your mind jarred out of submission: no craft is too colorful, no medium too wacky, no object too insane to join this wonderful collection at the Museum of International Folk Art begun by Florence Dibell Bartlett in 1953. More than 135,000 objects now pack the place, arranged without regard for time or place but rather by the spirit of the piece. It's all quite refreshing. The beadwork of Victorian England is alongside that of West Africa; castles of Mexican tin preside over townships of Chinese ceramic; rooms and rooms of outrageous crafts and toys in the Girard Wing hail from more than 100 countries. Kids go crazy (or catatonic) at the sight.

Excellent traveling exhibitions are shown in galleries adjacent to those celebrating Native American and Hispanic crafts, and don't miss Lloyd's Treasure Chest, downstairs, a behind-the-scenes look at out-of-rotation pieces in storage. There are also guided tours (h 10:15 & 14:00 Tue-Wed, 10:15 , 13:00 & 15:00 Thu-Sun).