Attraction at New Museum: 6.5K Bobbleheads

Even Donald Trump is represented at Milwaukee's latest attraction
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 6, 2019 2:13 PM CST
Attraction at New Museum: 6.5K Bobbleheads
In this Jan. 8, 2019, photo, dog bobbleheads are displayed at the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee.   (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)

A new museum in Milwaukee may well hold the largest collection of bobbleheads anyone has ever seen, displaying more than 6,500 figures of athletes, mascots, celebrities, animals, cartoon characters, politicians, and more. The recently opened National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum is the brainchild of friends Phil Sklar and Brad Novak, who started collecting the figures 16 years ago, per the AP. "We've put everything into this," Sklar says. They decided on a museum and bobblehead-creating business about four years ago, after quitting their corporate finance (Sklar) and retail sales (Novak) jobs. Since then, they've been making bobbleheads to earn money, collecting the toys from thrift stores and private donors and finding a location. They've collected more than 10,000 bobbleheads, including a life-size one; characters from The Wizard of Oz and the Star Wars franchise; and even one of Donald Trump from The Apprentice that says "You're fired" upon the push of a button.

Some of the figures will be on rotation or part of special exhibits. The museum, which charges $5 admission, also includes information about the making of bobbleheads and the people they represent. Sklar and Novak are in the process of having the collection certified as the world's largest by Guinness World Records. The current record is 2,396 bobbleheads. A smaller bobblehead museum exists at Marlins Park in Miami, but its more than 600 figurines are all baseball players, mascots, and broadcasters. Sklar says he hopes the museum will attract bobblehead fans, as well as "people looking for something fun to do." "There are so many negative things going on ... we need more places to escape and have a good time and also educate at the same time, so hopefully we will be an asset to the community," he adds. (Trump has a bobblehead; his daughter has her own controversial art exhibit.)

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