KSB Miniatures Collection
A New Way to Look at the World
We invite you to journey through this unrivaled collection of thousands of 1/12 scale miniatures, each selected or commissioned by Maysville native Kaye Browning. The Kathleen Savage Browning Miniatures Collection is housed in our 3,300-square-foot exhibit hall and features hundreds of limited-edition or one-of-a-kind homes, room boxes, vignettes, and individual works of art that captured Kaye’s heart either for their charming stories or their historical significance.
From glorious mansions to small apartments, our miniature homes offer a glimpse of how people lived in different times and different cultures. Each one captures the essence of life, whether it was lived in the distant past, in some faraway place, or in the here-and now.
Absorb the Amazing Details
Incredible artistry and craftsmanship turn each of our miniatures into a true marvel. Some were made by world-famous miniaturists, while others were lovingly handcrafted by anonymous artisans, but all invite you to appreciate the details of life—past, present or imaginary—from a powerful, new perspective. Visit again and again to see how the collection changes with the seasons.
Focus on: Russell Theater
The Russell Theater facade miniature on display was the first miniature in the collection where the general public was invited to have a personal hand in construction. Many of the 11,000 bricks in the facade were purchased and engraved by anyone who wanted to commemorate the memory of someone or honor their lives. Half of the money raised from this activity went to the Russell Theater restoration committee and the other half will be used by the museum for operational expenses. The miniature of the Russell joins two other Maysville miniatures, the Cox Building and the Bethel Baptist Church.
Artisans Allison Ashby and Steve Jedd’s attention to detail included researching and hanging movie posters of shows that played at the Russell the same year Rosemary Clooney premiered her movie, “The Stars Are Singing” at the theater. There is even an empty coke glass in the ticket booth which leads you to believe the ticket seller had just finished her drink and stepped out for a minute. Each detail was meticulously researched and reproduced from the tiles on the floor to the placement of the decorative plaques and drain pipe from the theater marquee.
Ashby and Jedd have completed the Russell interior to their exacting standards and it takes its place next to a miniature of the exterior of the theater, both a reminder of the hey-day of local movie houses and all their opulence.
