The Doll Asylum is an annual
Halloween
Halloween or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve) is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints' Day. It begins the observanc ...
experience and makeshift doll-themed museum, originally hosted at a couple's private residence in
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...
's
Piedmont
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neighborhood, in the United States. In 2017, the Doll Asylum moved to
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria is a port city and the seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1811, Astoria is the oldest city in the state and was the first permanent American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. The county is the northwest corne ...
.
Description and history
Mark Williams and Heidi Loutzenhiser originally decided to host an open house as a way to meet their new neighbors, having moved to the neighborhood in 2010.
They considered a bird theme until Williams saw a doll leaning against a tree across the street from his house.
[ He has said of the event's evolution and impact: "It started with just some family friends coming over, now we're on the internet. I just love seeing how they react to the little things we do out and about... it just makes me happy."][ Williams has said of the collection, "Dolls are perfect. Because they're cheap. And they creep people out. All of these are donated or bought from Goodwill or other thrift shops."][ The Doll Asylum is open at no cost for a limited time each Halloween season.][
In 2017, the Doll Asylum moved to ]Astoria, Oregon
Astoria is a port city and the seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1811, Astoria is the oldest city in the state and was the first permanent American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. The county is the northwest corne ...
, where open houses continue around Halloween.
Reception
The event's attendance has grown over time, as has the size of the doll collection.[ One ]KOIN Koin or KOIN may refer to:
* KOIN, a TV station in Portland, Oregon
* Koin, Guinea
Koin, Guinea (Pular: 𞤂𞤫𞤧-𞤯𞤢𞤤ðž¤ðž¥…𞤪𞤫 𞤑𞤮𞤴ðž¤ðž¤²) is a town and sub-prefecture in the Tougué Prefecture in the Labé Regi ...
reporter said of his experience, "I didn't really know what to expect upon arriving to the home that has a hundred or so dolls dwelling inside. What I found was a family who absolutely loves Halloween… and they love celebrating it with everyone."[ Michael Lloyd of '']The Oregonian
''The Oregonian'' is a daily newspaper based in Portland, Oregon, United States, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 185 ...
'' called the asylum "creepy, but fun".[ In 2015, the paper included the event in its list of five ways to celebrate Halloween. The paper said, "North Portland's Doll Asylum is a truly creepy Halloween experience. Breaking the mold from the haunted house thrills, the makeshift doll-themed museum displays old dolls in vast numbers around a house – creepy enough in their own right."]
See also
* List of museums in Portland, Oregon
References
External links
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{{dolls
2010 establishments in Oregon
Annual events in Portland, Oregon
Culture of Astoria, Oregon
Doll museums
Halloween events in the United States
Museums established in 2010
Museums in Portland, Oregon
North Portland, Oregon
Piedmont, Portland, Oregon
Recurring events established in 2010