At some point every one of us has experienced a doll. It may have been your own doll which you named and treasured for years. It may have been your sibling’s which you coveted! It may have been the doll you gave to your child for the first time which enabled you to feel the peace and satisfaction of being such a great gift-giver!

The city of Independence, Missouri wants to invite you to delve into a celebration of dolls! The event is called “All Dolled Up” and it takes place during President’s Day weekend.

The show will incorporate all different sizes, shapes, ethnicities, and functions of dolls. The show also will have bears to exhibit. The display will be held at three different locations. The Bingham-Waggoner Estate, located at 313 W. Pacific, the Vaile Mansion, 1500 N. Liberty and the Chicago & Alton Depot, 318 W. Pacific in Independence.

All three locations will be open for exhibition viewing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Monday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the Vaile and Bingham-Waggoner will be $5 per person, ($2 for children) which includes tours of the home. Suggested admission to the Chicago and Alton Depot is $2 per person, ($1 for children 6-17).

Not only will you be able to contribute to the inner child, doll-admirer, and/or collector in you but all of the proceeds go towards restorations projects at the sites.

For those interested in some of the most popular dolls being manufactured today there is a display of “American Girls” dolls at the Midwest Genealogy Center, located at 3440 S. Lee’s Summit Road. This is a free showing and is open Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The National Frontier Trails Museum is also host to a myriad of events planned throughout the weekend. It will have a display of handmade puppets all three days and is free with regular museum admission. There will also be a movie shown on all three days called “The Queen’s Dollhouse” (free with admission). Admission is $5 for adults, $4.50 for seniors 62 and over and $3.00 for children ages 6-17. It is located at 318 West Pacific in Independence.

If you’d like to get some craft-making time in, the museum will be hosting a doll quilt making workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. On Monday at 10 a.m. the museum will have a corn husk doll making workshop. Reservations are required for both classes so make sure to call 816-325-7575 to get your name in.

If you have some dolls you’d like put on display for all to see your addition/s would be greatly appreciated. Contact Diana Marr, 816-325-7108, to do so.