Dolls and Teddy Bears
October 11, 2009

If you looked at the Sunday Edhat today, you're sure of a big surprise. If you are looking for the Where It Was, you'd better go in disguise.

For ev'ry dedicated staffer that ever there was, is gathered on Canon Perido because, today's the day that we tell you that last week's Where Is It picture was taken at the Susan Quinain Doll Museum and Library.

You see, every day but Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday is a Teddy Bear Picnic at 122 West Canon Perdido. On display, there are 500 teddy bears and 2500 dolls from the personal collection of Susan Quinian. Susan was a Santa Barbara resident long ago. It took her 30 years to convince her husband to move back here. And when she did, she brought her doll collection with her.

The couple bought the property for the Doll Museum in 2000. Previously, it was a hair salon named, Christopher's. Before that, it was -- among other things -- a garage and a storage facility for Jordano's. The metal gate shown in the picture is fairly new.

There aren't as many doll museums in the country as there used to be. The dedicated staff remembers one up on the 101 by Paso Robles (right at the point where the speed limit changes to 70). It is gone, along with other more famous museums in Pennsylvania and Florida. Quinian said that there is still a museum up in Washington, with a similar-sized collection as hers.

The dolls and bears in the museum are arranged in different cases, according to themes. There are many bears and dolls related to California history. Literary characters are another theme. Quinian has such a large collection that the museum only holds a portion of her bounty.

It seems only fitting that one of the few remaining doll museums in the country is in Santa Barbara. After all, one of our richest citizens made his money selling Beanie Babies. We asked if Ty Warner had ever stopped in at the store to view the collection or offer any business advice. He hadn't.

It only costs $6.50 to doll it up at the museum. And, as we said, it opens every Friday through Monday at 11:00AM. You can see them gaily gathered about. They love to play and shout - they never have any cares. But at five o'clock the Quinians will put them all to bed, because they're tired little teddy bears.

Seven Edhat subscribers correctly identified the location of the Doll Museum in Sunday's contest. The Edhat Dog, who admittedly only likes dolls and teddy bears as chew toys, ran around in circles chasing her tail, and then placed her left paw on a winner's name. Icy Jen is the winner of this week's t-shirt!

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