Miniature park

A miniature park is an open space that displays miniature buildings and models, and is usually open to the public. A miniature park may contain a model of a single city or town, often called a miniature city or model village, or it can contain a number of different sets of models. They have been developed as recreational and tourist attractions, with possible roots in Japanese miniature gardens.

Most examples are located in landscaped outdoor spaces, but the definition has widened in recent years to encompass large scale miniature landscapes indoors.

Contents 1 History 2 Variations on a theme 3 Other forms of miniature exhibitions 4 List of miniature parks 4.1 Europe 4.1.1 Austria 4.1.2 Belgium 4.1.3 Czech Republic 4.1.4 Denmark 4.1.5 France 4.1.6 Germany 4.1.7 Ireland 4.1.8 Italy 4.1.9 Netherlands 4.1.10 Norway 4.1.11 Spain 4.1.12 Sweden 4.1.13 Switzerland 4.1.14 Poland 4.1.15 Portugal 4.1.16 Ukraine 4.1.17 United Kingdom 4.2 North America 4.2.1 Canada 4.2.2 United States 4.3 Asia/Pacific Region 4.3.1 Australia 4.3.2 Indonesia 4.3.3 Japan 4.3.4 Taiwan 4.3.5 China 4.4 Elsewhere 4.4.1 Africa 4.4.2 Middle East 5 See also 6 External links 7 References

History

There is evidence to suggest the existence of private model villages and miniature parks since the 19th century, but it was only in the 1930s to 1950s that the genre became tourist attractions. Early examples include Bekonscot in the UK and Madurodam in the Hague.

Variations on a theme

Most model villages and parks are built to a consistent scale; varying from 1:76 as used by the intricately-detailed Pendon in England up to the 1:9 scale of Wimborne Model Town.

Continental Europe and Asia have tended to favour the scale of 1:25, whilst North American and UK examples have been based upon 1:12 and other variants.

There has been a move away from the "model village" concept since the mid-late 20th Century towards a "miniature park" concept. Model villages are typically larger-scale, sit in a cohesive miniature landscape and allow viewing and physical interaction with the exhibits, such as publicly-accessed streets and urban areas. Miniature parks however, are primarily concerned with the display of exhibits in their own right, viewed from a distance. Model railways, rivers and roads may provide a continuation between miniature parks exhibits.

Other forms of miniature exhibitions

Some exhibitions are displayed indoors. The most common forms are model railroads and dollhouses.

List of miniature parks

Europe

Austria

• Minimundus, Klagenfurt

Belgium

• Mini-Europe

Czech Republic

• Miniuni, Ostrava

Denmark

• Legoland Billund in Billund (the original Legoland)

France

• France Miniature, Élancourt

Germany

• Legoland Deutschland, Günzburg, Bavaria
• Minimundus Bodensee[1], Meckenbeuren
• Burgerpark Miniaturenpark, Werigerode

Ireland

• Clonakilty Model Railway Village[2] Clonakilty, West Cork
• Model World, Wicklow^{[citation needed]}

Italy

• Italia in miniatura[3], Rimini

Netherlands

• Madurodam, The Hague

Norway

• Lilleputthammer[4], Hafjell, Oppland

Spain

• Pasión Mudejar[5], Olmedo
• Catalunya en Miniatura[6], Catalunya

Sweden

• Miniland[7], Halmstad

Switzerland

• Swissminiatur[8], Melide, and Swiss Vapeur Parc, Valais

Poland

• Park Miniatur Zabytków Dolnego Śląska in Kowary
• Park Miniatur "Świat Marzeń" in Inwałd

Portugal

• Portugal dos Pequeninos in coimbra

Ukraine

• Kiev in miniature (park)

United Kingdom

• Bekonscot, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
• Blackpool Model Village [9]
• Anglesey Model Village
• Pendon Museum, Pendon, Oxfordshire
• Wimborne Model Town
• Tucktonia, Dorset, closed in 1985
• Legoland Windsor in Windsor
• Old New Inn[10], Bourton-on-the-Water, the Cotswolds
• The Model Village, Godshill, Isle of Wight
• Merrivale Model Village[11], Great Yarmouth
• Babbacombe Model Village[12], Babbacombe, Devon
• Miniatura Park[13], Cornwall
• Land of Legend, Polperro, Cornwall
• Usher Miniature Village, [14], Coniston, Cumbria
• Lakeland Miniature Village[15], Cumbria
• Corfe Castle Model Village[16], Swanage, Dorset
• Southsea Model Village[17], Southsea
• Southport Model Railway Village[18],
• Bondville Model Village[19], Bridlington
• Forest Model Village, Gloucestershire
• Haigh Hall[20], Wigan
• Skegness Model Village[21], Skegness
• Wistow Rural Centre[22], Wistow, Leicestershire
• Ramsgate Model Village[23]
• Hastings Model Village[24]
• Eastbourne Redoubt Model Village[25]
• Fred Slaymaker's Wonder Village[26], Polegate

Blenhiem Palace (Woodstock)

Little Italy, Corris, Wales

Vauxhall Model Village, Vauxhall Park, London

North America

Canada

• Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village
• Woodleigh Replicas[27]

United States

• Tiny Town, Morrison, Colorado opened in 1921, is the oldest miniature village and railroad in the USA
• Roadside America, Pennsylvania, opened in 1935
• Storybook Land Canal Boats, Disneyland, California opened in 1956
• Forbidden Gardens, Katy, Texas, opened in 1997
• Legoland California, Carlsbad, California, opened in 1999
• Miniature Railroad & Village, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Ave Maria Grotto Cullman, Alabama, opened in 1933

Asia/Pacific Region

Australia

• Cockington Green Gardens[28], Canberra

Indonesia

• Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta

Japan

• Tobu World Square[29], Kinugawa Onsen, Nikkō, Tochigi

Taiwan

• Window on China[30]

China

• Splendid China, Shenzhen
• Window of the World
• World Park[31], Beijing

Elsewhere

Africa

• Santarama Miniland [32] in Johannesburg, South Africa

Middle East

• Mini Israel[33] and The Jerusalem’s Model in the Late 2nd Temple Period, Israel
• Miniaturk, Istanbul, Turkey
• Minicity[34], Antalya, Turkey

See also

• Model Village
• Doll house
• Model railway
• Model (physical)
• Scale model
• Gauge 1

External links

• The Gauge One Model Railway Association

References

• International Association of Miniature Parks
• Agilitynut feature