Chicago’s Million Dollar Fairy Castle | Object of Intrigue | Atlas Obscura

The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry contains a delicate treasure: a fairy castle, built by Colleen Moore. The idea is that fairies still live in this sumptuous miniature castle, even today, and only come out when the humans leave. The castle cost over 500,000 dollars to create in the 1920s, which means that it would be in the millions of dollars today.
On this episode of Object of Intrigue, curator Margaret Schlesinger shows us the delicate miniature details contained in each element of the castle and its furniture. Remember: DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING. The fairies won’t like it.
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Visit the Museum of Science and Industry’s website here:
www.msichicago.org/
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Credits:
Directed by:
Robert Stockwell
Edited by:
Josh Bloome
Executive Producers:
Doug Baldinger
Chris Naka
Produced by:
Ben Cohen
Production Assistant:
Josh Bloome
Special Thanks:
Isabel Morales
Amy Patti
At Atlas Obscura, our mission is to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share. See where we’re exploring here: www.atlasobscura.com
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[@Chromaticosomaermati]

This curator is my kind of person.... the way she looks at the detail of the tiny iron maiden with glee appreciation tells you she is exactly the person you want to tell you about this amazing work of art! Thanks Margaret!

[@ElvenWisdom]

I am very blessed to live in Chicago, where I can see this Fairy castle all the time. It’s truly a work of love. The host is such a Fairy soul herself still believing in magic.

[@BeatMessiah]

I just saw this today for the first time. I’m a 40-year-old father. I was so blown away by the quality and detail of this exhibit. My wife and kids had to pull me away from this. It was my favorite part of the museum. 😂

[@kymberlyp4056]

I was more of a “Tom Boy” growing up with my twin brother, but would definitely love to spend hours looking at this. The details and passion in this doll castle are amazing. 🧚‍♀️💚🧚‍♀️

[@ShawnLH88]

0:08 she got the famous people to physically sign that tiny book? if so then WOW....

[@travelbytrain6860]

Colleen Moore sure left a gift for us all

[@Gamble661]

No Polar Bears were harmed in the making of the Polar Bear rug.....it didn't work out so well for the mouse though!

[@Bootstataboots]

And the ermine 🤦‍♀️

[@Gamble661]

I've had this museum on my list of must-sees for years now and this is just another reason to make it happen. The first reason is that the building itself is the only remnant left from the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair.

[@aswanson42]

I saw this as a young girl, and it forever changed my ideas about limits of creative possibility. If you’ve never seen it, go and take your children.

[@theostheories6548]

I got to see it in person it was even more fascinating. 😍

[@jenniferyoder8086]

I have seen this 30+ times

[@WhiteIndoraptor]

Rich fairies must live there! 😮

[@judyt.5702]

My mother took me. One of the best times of my childhood.Amazing. ❤

[@diamondroycemore]

When I was little I used to stare at it for so long thinking I’d spot a hiding fairy😭

[@robertnation3077]

The bucket list keeps getting longer! Great vid, loved the music as well.

[@jwbarnhartmusic]

Wow, just wow.

[@chammybooo3232]

It's so beautiful and magical 😍

[@55giantsfan22]

Thats awesome, and that auto book 🤤🤤🤤

[@thedink5]

lifelong fan of dolls and doll houses, she commissioned this elaborate tiny house in 1928, for a total cost of nearly $500,000-in 2019 money,

[@persianmusicstudio619]

Wow 👌 👏 😍 👍 🥰 ☺

[@ArtbyLya]

I'm so inspired to recreate that miniature book of collection of incredible people. This is awesome.

[@atlasobscura]

You should! Good luck, and we'd love to see the results if you do.

[@ArtbyLya]

@@atlasobscura Yes, I will let you know. I'm so excited.

[@icegiant1000]

Right, so they didn't make it clear, that the signatures were from the actual people, yes if so, pretty crazy. I'm just imagining some scientists talking Einstein into coming with them to go see a miniature Fairy Castle, him riding in the car to go there, he must have thought to himself, 'So this is my life?'... then later having to sign this tiny book... he must have woken up the next day and wondered if he had dreamed that... nuts.

[@edstella]

You make it sound like it's so beneath him haha. In reality, Colleen Moore was accomplished as a respected actress and shrewd business woman. With her wealth and connections, she was able to commission world-renowned artisans to add to it and build it and was able to get signatures and items donated by big names in the entertainment business. This isn't even taking into consideration the valuable antique miniatures she preserved from her own collection. She wanted this castle so that it could *raise money* for people (notably children) during the Great Depression. Admission wasn't so high that it was exclusionary because she wanted everyone to enjoy it, but she was still able to support multiple charities and help hospitals, all at her own expense because it took so much to transport it on its tour.

[@Noxx55]

1:37 if it was made in the 1920s how would there be wood from WW2? I assume she meant WW1.

[@jo-vf8jx]

Noxx55 It could have been added at a later date. Much like doll houses today, you can always buy items years later after the fact. I watched a short documentary about doll houses and wow! The doll house market is a lot bigger than I had ever thought 😊

[@nazmunnahar1163]

How do they clean this?

[@robcat2075]

I'm going to guess they make sure the air in the museum is pretty clean to begin with.

[@jo-vf8jx]

The fairies lol

[@rayday4644]

A tiny vacuum cleaner.

[@edstella]

Here you go! www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/colleen-moores-fairy-castle/video/

[@davepappas5215]

Very carefully!

[@WasFakestCenturyAesthetics]

1:35 have you ever seen such exquisite ushabti?

[@edstella]

'Uh, not this exquisite..." I wasn't expecting a Simpson's reference in here, but I'm glad for it.

[@WasFakestCenturyAesthetics]

@@edstella I love you

[@missmojo8779]

I didn’t quite get if Colleen not only designed but build all of it?

[@zackmoore147]

👍

[@silkthyme]

Nutcracker overture.

[@Luna-zp2yp]

No one will probably see this but the photo of Colleen Moore looks like Anya Taylor Joy a bit, and this reminds me of the film The Miniatureist 🤩

[@preshisify]

🤔

[@oaksage3293]

Someone tell her iron maidens are not medieval...

[@JBond-zf4dj]

Lol, or were never used as torture devices, except maybe on TV.

[@ultimateuser01]

Is your channel`s symbol masonic guys??

[@dlbstl]

It's A and O.

[@h.calvert3165]

Alpha & omega; the beginning to the end.

[@michaelbubbles]

H. Calvert Actually, A and O stand for Atlas Obscura, the name of this channel.

[@h.calvert3165]

@@michaelbubbles Oh, sorry! Makes sense now. Thanks! 😉

[@michaelbubbles]

H. Calvert It’s all good. 🙂