Description
A fountain and gardens. Made in France stamped on the bottom.
Notes
Snow resembles styrofoam particles. Very clumpy. Bought when visiting Kelley & Weston.
Description
Tiny gold miner guy on a sculpted base. Glass dome.
Notes
Is there anything Kate can't do?
Description
It reads "Greatings from Albuquerque New Mexico" with a desert scene and lots of hot air balloons.
Description
Horse and buggy in relief and a red covered bridge in the background.
Notes
Rock on Amish! Bought with Mom, went to see the Glenn Miller Band. American Music Hall?
Description
Horse and buggy and windmill
Notes
Rock on Amish! Bought with Mom, went to see the Glenn Miller Band. American Music Hall?
Description
Woman in flames backed by multiple crucifixions. Up From Guatemala, NYC.
Notes
First religious snowglobe. A museum audience favorite!
Previously known as "Fire Woman". Thanks to a knowledgable visitor the mystery has been solved. Read more.
Commentary
This is one of the earliest snowglobes in the collection, but it wasnât until a MoMS visitor filled us in that we knew who this unfortunate woman is. Most visitors guess Joan of Arc, but sheâs Anima Sola, the forsaken soul suffering in purgatory, a popular votive image in Latin American Roman Catholicism.
Description
Metal horse and gaucho with glitter.
Notes
Notes
From someone Mrs. S. works with (she's another snowglobe franchisee).
Description
The ruins of the Parthenon.
Description
Buildings and peaches in a glass globe on a relief base. The base features the Zoo indicating they have a panda.
Description
Plastic sail ship and clouds with white snow.
Description
Treasure chest shape with views from the front, left, right, and top. Two relief cutouts. The front cutout depicts a slot machine, dice, and roulette wheel. The rear cutout depicts hotels and reads Golden Nugget and Horseshoe. A placard reads Atlantic City, N.J.
Description
Three layers of relief buildings, a tall ship, a dolphin, and a crab with white snow. Stamped in the bottom is the markings "NO 354R Made in Hong Kong".
Notes
The crab and dolphin are as large as the buildings!? There is no sense of scale.
Description
Relief plastic depicting Gaudi's cathedral. Silver glitter.
Notes
Possibly Jen's first addition to the collection.
Description
Musikfest, white snow and glitter. Made in China stamped on the bottom.
Notes
Christmas present to Kristin.
Description
Paul Revere statue and the old State House.
Description
Lobster ring toss game.
Description
Relief rainbow.
Notes
Hostess gift.
Description
Showboat Branson Belle TM. Steamboat in a glass globe. Glitter.
Notes
Crystal Gayle rocks!
Description
Brighton Royal Pavilion and Brighton Pier
Description
Gold pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, hearts, and hats instead of snow.
Notes
I wish I knew.
Description
Two plastic floating LA's. One is red and other is white. Glitter.
Notes
Description
Maple leaf and flag. "Made in China" stamped in the bottom.
Description
Dolphin and whale on a seesaw
Description
Heart shape with stand. Two floating skyscrapers, two floating hearts, and glitter. Felt backing. A sticker on the back reads Made in China.
Notes
Complete with stand.
Description
Super 3-D Chicago skyline.
Notes
Bought on mom's trip to chicago.
Description
More Chicago skyline in a little glass globe.
Notes
Bought on mom's trip to chicago.
Description
Small plastic globe. Pink base with skyline.
Description
Transparent Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in a glass globe on a wooden base. It lights up.
Notes
Donated by a visitor to the museum.
Description
A little girl in front of the fireplace.
Notes
Another addition to the mighty mighty Christmas globe collection. This might be a duplicate globe, but we're starting to lose track these days.
Description
Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and pair of lambs.
Description
Where Pigs Fly, Cincinnati
Commentary
What do flying pigs have to do with Cincinnati? In the 19th century, the cityâs fortunes were closely tied to river commerce and pork processing plants. In 1988, when Cincinnati decided to renovate its riverfront as part of its bicentennial celebrations, the architect of the new Bicentennial Commons proposed honoring the history of âPorkopolisâ by framing the park entrance with four pigs flying atop riverboat smokestacks. The idea was ridiculed at first, but Cincinnatians soon warmed up to their puzzling mascots.
Description
A steam boat in a glass globe on a relief base.
Description
Guitars & music notes.
Notes
Hall of Fame related, without having to pay them (or Drew Carey) licensings fees. Clever snow globe makers.
Description
White snow and glitter. Made in China stamped in the bottom.
Description
Shell shape with glitter. Made in China stamped in the bottom.
Description
A Philly bar, "There's No Place Quite Like It."
Notes
Notes
(Shhh, Spence is not his real name!)
Description
Steel Force roller coaster, Dorney Park. White snow and glitter. Sticker on the bottom reads Made in China.
Notes
1/13/02: On a routine assessment of the collection on top of the refrigerator, our curator discovered the Dorney Park globe mysteriously devoid of its water. Miracuously, the stereo speakers next to it are fine.
Description
A half-dome magnet.
Description
Easter Bunny with eggs in a glass globe.
Notes
Another holiday dollar store find.
Description
Yellow base with green lettering reads "This Bunny Loves You". Flowers as snow. Made in Hong Kong.
Description
Agypten, Egitto, Egypte, Egypt. Pyramid shaped pen holder snowglobe with gold glitter. Printed on the bottom of the box are the following instructions.
To obtain maximum enjoyment:
Description
Spaceship Earth in a glass globe on a relief base. The base features a relief Mickey Mouse and flags of the countries in the World Showcase.
Description
Michelangelo's "David"
Description
Gator shaped globe. Teeter-totter gators inside. "Made in Hong Kong" stamped on the right side of the gator's head.
Notes
Quite a globe!
Description
Tethered floating fish and plant life. White snow. Made in Hong Kong for Herzfeld's is printed on a sticker on the bottom.
Description
Cottage and flag posts. Fine white snow. Stamped in the bottom is "Made in Germany", "Inhalt nicht zum Verzehr geeignet", and No.6 recycling.
Notes
The cost is probably in Deutsche Marks. The German text translates to "Content not suitable for human consumption". Thanks for the heads up.
Description
Two happy bears on a see-saw.
Description
Gun slingers!
Notes
Purchased at Archie McPhee
Description
Green witch in a glass globe with skeletons.
Notes
Mom is vying with Spence for the most Dollar Store holiday snowglobes.
Notes
From Sonia's honeymoon. Same as Gina's Maui one, but a different color.
Description
Hershey's chocolate! Hershey's chocolate! It's a Hershey's chocolate world!
Notes
Thanks for taking the tour kids, here's some Hershey's kisses!
Description
Little Dutch kids on a see-saw with a windmill in the back.
Notes
The current winner of the Kris' Favorite Snowglobe title.
Commentary
Teeter-totters are a popular gimmick in old-style relief snowglobes, and are highly prized within the MoMS collection for fitting even more oddity into a small package.
Look for more teeter-totters from Cape May, New Jersey, and Panama City Beach, Florida (the same globe, printed with different
locations); the Great Smoky Mountains;
and Ocean City, Maryland.
Description
A sailor standing with arms folded behind his back.
Description
Halfpenny Bridge (Ha'penny Bridge), floating hearts and snow.
Description
Vikings!
Description
Saturday night bath - three pigs in a tub. Way to reverse those Midwestern stereotypes!
Description
I Love Ewe. 3-D sheep wearing a red heart. The backdrop features a smiling farmer, a mule smoking a pipe, a sheep wearing a top hat and drinkng a Guiness, frolicking pigs, and lounging pigs. A sticker on the bottom reads Shannon Distribution LTD, Gifts from Ireland, Dublin 1.
Notes
Jen is setting up snowglobe acquisition franchises. Unfortunately her sister's addition to the collection (the infamous "squatting leprechaun") was unceremoniously sent to an early grave by Sister Wendy's production assistants.
Commentary
Jen R. has been instrumental in facilitating snowglobe donations. Her first donation-by-proxy in 1998 was from a sister's trip to Ireland, the infamous "squatting leprechaun" snowglobe, which met its demise in an accidental leap from its perch on a desk.
This globe from 2000, a gift from Jen's parents, addresses that untimely loss. Note the beer-drinking farm animals in the background. Ireland is the most-represented non-North American country in the collection with four globes.
Description
SlĂłinte, Irish Stout. Good Luck from Ireland. A nice, frothy pint of Irish Stout. Everyone knows "Irish Stout" means Guiness.
Notes
Rumored to have been acquired at the "finest gift shop in Dublin." Given in exchange for 2 drinks.
Description
The letter J.
Description
Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas.
Description
The letter K.
Description
Laika Sounds of the Satellites
Notes
Purchased at Archie McPhee
Commentary
Although MoMS collecting guidelines stipulate that a donor must have traveled to the site in question, this Laika snowglobe is an exceptionâno one has yet found a snowglobe in outer space. This depiction of the doomed Russian cosmocanine is from the Archie McPhee novelty superstore in Seattle, Washington (as is the
Hatfield and McCoy shootout nearby).
Description
Relief skier and moutains.
Notes
The funny thing is Tara's afraid of skiing.
Description
Flat, square globe with floating dice.
Notes
Jackson's favorite globe.
Description
Plastic globe with relief sailboat. The base is a calendar.
Description
Floating dice and sliver glitter. Relief signs read Casino, Bingo, and Golden Nugger Gambling Hall. Made in China is stamped in the bottom.
Notes
Description
Treasure chest, see Atlantic City
Notes
Description
Hotel collage with signs that read Stratosphere, Stardust, Sam's Town, Imperial Palace, Harrah's, Aladdin, Sahara, Excalibur, Luxor, Bally's, Caesar's Palace, and New York, New York. Made in China is stamped in the bottom.
Notes
Description
Floating cards and glitter.
Notes
It's a magnet!
Notes
This is from the New York, New York hotel.
Description
3-D leprechaun topped with a shamrock reading "I love Ireland."
Description
Glass dome containing a 3-D sculpted Liberace and gold glitter.
Notes
I believe it was actually bought at the now defunct Liberace Museum.
Description
Look kids, Big Ben; Parliament; Big Ben; Parliamaent!
Notes
First donation from Mr. Curt D.
Description
Depicted in relief in the snowglobe is the Plaza de Cibeles and the Bear and the MadroĂąo Tree. Written on the base in relief is Museo del Prado, AlcalĂĄ, etc.
Description
Seagul and red and white striped lighthouse. Sticker on the bottom reads Made in China.
Notes
The only snowglobe in all of York Beach, ME.
Description
Happy shopping!
Notes
Bought on a trip from PA to Minnesota, *solely* to visit the Mall of America.
Notes
Bought on their trip from Massachusetts to San Francisco.
Description
Sticker on the front reads MARSEILLE. Placard inside reads N.D. DE LA GARDE/MARSEILLE. Plastic relief view of Notre Dame de la Mare, Marseilles. Made in China and Fabrique en Chine stamped in the bottom.
Notes
Bought in Marseilles train station on the way to Arles.
Description
Flat ocean scene. (Not the same as Ocean Colour Scene.)
Description
State map, flag, and a crab. White snow and glitter.
Description
Three hula dancers and palm trees. Fine glitter. Made in China stamped in the bottom.
Notes
Bought on Gina's trip to Hawaii with Bernadette.
Description
3-D sculpted saxophone. Floating music notes and glitter.
Description
Pink flamingoes.
Notes
Joanna's first appearance in the fabulous donor roster. Jeff likes the pretty colors.
See also: Perry's Nut House
Description
Banjo & guitar, happy together. Glitter. "NO 354R" and "Made in China" stamped in the bottom.
Notes
Description
It's a snowglobe and magnet.
Description
Wagon, windmill, and a not-so-healthy-looking cow. It's "the cornhusker state"!
Description
Relief deer, pine trees and barn.
Description
Glass dome containing a voodoo doll and cat. The snow is actually black bats.
Description
Bought on the way to Killington, VT along Rt 81.
Boat slides across as the globe tilts.
Description
Gold Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building.
Notes
Acquired on a trip to see the musical "Naked Boys Singing," which Kevin assures us is not as prurient as it sounds.
Description
Tall thin dome. Gold buildings.
Description
NYC skyline. Statue of Liberty, World Trade Center, and the Empire State Building. "NO 352R" and "Made in Hong Hong" stamped in bottom.
Notes
Slightly used. Possibly filled (half-filled, that is) with water straight from the East River. The sticker on the bottom reads, "CITY MERCHANDISE NEW YORK CITY MADE IN HONG KONG".
Notes
Mystery globe. Who is this from? Help!
Description
Floating tar heels. Bought in the Raleigh-Durham airport.
Star shaped with felt back. Made in China sticker on the back.
Notes
Description
"Fall in love in Norway," says the cute little troll couple (not monkeys!)
Description
Nubble Light, York Beach, Maine
Notes
Description
Yellow!
Notes
Purchased at Sunsation
Description
Whale & dolphins on see-saw
Notes
Purchased at Sunsation
Description
Dolphin jumping over globe with dolphin & whale on see saw, wave base.
Notes
Description
Large sized dome.
Description
Front: Padre Pio, Reverse: Virgin Mary
Notes
Second religious snowglobe from Kelley.
Commentary
This snowglobe, purchased in Milan, Italy, celebrates the recently canonized Padre Pio, an Italian Capuchin priest who died in 1968. Saint Pio is venerated in part for the visible stigmata that the faithful believe he displayed throughout his life.
Description
Relief sun with floating palm trees.
Description
A happy little dolphin, playing on the seesaw with a happy little whale. Just like on the Nature Channel.
Description
Ile de France, Eiffel Tower
Notes
Kelley's summer at the CafÊ du Thè
Description
Glass dome containing a sledding penguin.
Notes
A note on the bottom reads, "Abandoned orphan wants to be part of your snow globe family. Found on an adventure. ReallyâŚthe penguin made me do it."
Description
Pink flamingos and palm trees in relief.
Commentary
Perryâs Nut House is a Maine roadside institution and a mandatory stop for anyone heading to Bar Harbor. In addition to lots of nuts, fudge, and salt water taffy, itâs also the perfect place to stock up on tacky tchotchkes you never knew you needed, like a snowglobe full of flamingos. Daylight and summer weather are in even shorter supply up there—MoMS doesnât begrudge the Perryâs folks their imaginary tropical landscape.
Description
Liberty Bell & Independence Hall
Notes
Sent to Kris in Boston a fabulous, handcrafted wooden case.
Description
There are no penguins present in this globe, just the Pittsburgh skyline.
Notes
Description
Please Touch Museum, Memorial Hall Fairmount Park
Description
Plimouth Plantation, Mayflower II, Plymouth, MA
Description
Relief rock, ship, and Indian for super political-correctness.
Notes
Bought in cheesey gift shop across the street from Plymouth Rock. (At the time) a record low price of $1.69.
Description
It's the Pope, silly.
Notes
Go to church! (3rd religion-related snowglobe in the collection; strangely, they're all Catholic.)
Description
The base reads Pro Football Hall of Fame TM, Canton, OH. White snow.
Notes
Description
Relief mermaid. Hotcha!
Notes
Former #1 in the collection, even though it was bought in a kitschy shop and not actually found in a legitimate souvenir trap. Recently dethroned by Silvia's Holland globe.
Description
Frog mariachi band.
Notes
Description
A view of Le château Frontenac. Made in Hong Kong stamped on the end. White snow.
Notes
Description
Floating dice and a man on a horse in relief.
Description
Three dimensional Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum and cityscape. A cardboard disc stuck on the bottom calls it a "Liquid Snowdome" and lists it as #01582 of 10,000. Glitter. Made in China.
Description
Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman as salt and pepper shakers.
Description
Made in Hong Kong stamped in the bottom.
Notes
Bought on her trip to see Amy in college at the Art Institute.
Description
Monstrous frog head mounted on a normal dome. "NO 352R" and "Made in Hong Kong" stamped in the bottom.
Notes
All for the rock-bottom price of 99 cents! Chinatown is rad.
Notes
The twin sister to our original SF mermaid globe, but with a Chinatown scene.
Commentary
These twin mermaids represent an especially rare and disappearing class of snowglobes found in the wild: relief snowglobes encased within a larger, three-dimensional plastic structure (see the Chinatown frog nearby). Unfortunately they are more delicate, and are not easily refilled or cleaned.
Notes
What's the matter Homer? Ain't you never seen a naked chick riding a snowglobe before? Price sticker reads "Reg. Price 3.99, Our Price $1.99".
Commentary
These twin mermaids represent an especially rare and disappearing class of snowglobes found in the wild: relief snowglobes encased within a larger, three-dimensional plastic structure (see the Chinatown frog nearby). Unfortunately they are more delicate, and are not easily refilled or cleaned.
Description
"NO 352V" and "Made in Hong Kong" stamped in the bottom. Relief trolly slides back and forth. Silver glitter.
Description
Tethered floating fish
Description
Notes
Description
Notes
Description
Black Forest, Germany
Notes
Bought on their trip around Europe after living in Aix.
Description
Space Needle with ring-toss game.
Description
Tall dome with the Space Needle and Mt. Ranier.
Notes
From Fall '01 1st color. ;)
Description
Nature's Theme Park
Description
No snow, just faux water blobs. Made in China sticker on the bottom.
Notes
Outdoing even her previous Dutch Teetertotter globe, Silvia is the donor of our first utilitarian snowglobe - itâs also the hippest pen holder your desk could have.
Description
Relief building with the sun on top. Glass globe on a relief base. Base features the words South Beach and palm trees. Sticker on the bottom reads polyglobe small. Glitter.
Description
Man on a burrow, cactus, and a rainbow all in relief.
Notes
Bought at South of the Border (aka the promised land) when moving Kristin's nana's belongings from Florida to Pennsylvania.
Commentary
A straightforward example of the ideal snowglobe, in MoMS's estimation: small, traditional dome shape, multi-layer relief sculpture. That it's from the promised land of tacky souvenirs is icing on the cake. Pedro says shake 'em if you got 'em.
Description
The Conch Republic, Southermost point in the continental, USA, Key West, Fl. Lots of shells and blue gravel.
Description
Space Needle with a pencil sharpener in the base.
Notes
Spit and Spat are apparently a fountain. Can anyone confirm this?
Commentary
For centuries, tourists have flocked to Saratoga Springs in upstate New York for the purported healing powers of the areaâs mineral springs—and for the horse racing. Congress Park in the center of town is a popular place to stop for a drink from a spring-fed fountain and to see âSpit and Spat,â two beloved if ill-behaved water sprites.
Description
St. Louis, MO. Relief plastic steamboat and St. Louis Arch. "NO 352R" and "Made in Hong Kong" stamped in the bottom.
Description
Dolphin in a coral reef.
Notes
Via Gina, from her intern.
Description
Boat filled with shells.
Notes
This is pushing the limits of what is accepted as a snowglobe.
Description
Pirate, parrot, chest full of gold, the Jolly Roger, and a boat. All in relief. Made in China sticker on bottom.
Description
Photo globe of the Mary Had a Little Lamb statue in Sterling, MA.
Notes
Possibly the winner for the smallest town to manufacture a snowglobe.
Commentary
This limited-production snowglobe is from Sterling, Massachusetts, a town in Worcester County with a population of 7,257. Sterling is famous as the hometown of Ebenezer Butterick, who revolutionized home sewing, and Mary Sawyer, of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" fame.
This historically true poem is commemorated with a small sculpture of a lamb on the town green, pictured in this snowglobe. This snowglobe almost definitely represents the smallest town in the MoMS collection.
Description
Small glass globe. Abundance of snow. Small gold castle.
Notes
From a friend of hers. Kristin thinks it's actually from Austria.
Description
Relief girl sitting on a loaf of bread. One of the best globes in the collection.
Description
Kissing horses in the moonlight.
Description
Relief rainbow & screened plastic of state map & "walking horse"
Description
Don't mess with Texas you green horn.
Notes
The Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston had about 8 different snowglobes to choose from. I just like that "Donât mess with Texas" was originally an anti-litter slogan and is now a mild threat. SUVs, yay!
Description
Star shaped, felt back with glitter. Longhorns, the Alamo, Austin, big oil, etc.
Description
I think this came from Gettysburg. Lots of information on this one for you history buffs.
Notes
Whales, covered bridges, gambling, and tall ships. What more could you ask for?
Description
The Rainforest, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Glitter. Made in China sticker on the bottom.
Description
Many lobsters caught in a trap. All yearning for their freedom, but destined to be boiled.
Notes
Given as payment for booking a visit to the museum.
Description
Spider-man swinging from a web by a full moon and the New York City skyline. Glitter. Made in China sticker on the bottom.
Description
Sculpture of buildings inside of a glass globe on a relief base.
Description
Painted covered bridge.
Notes
Description
Bought on their honeymoon. Damage by: US Air
Notes
The donors were kind enough to scribe all of the relevant provenance information on the bottom.
Description
Erika's first addition to the collection.
Description
Relief cityscape.
Notes
Description
The base is a calendar.
Notes
See also Lake Tahoe.
Description
Wild flowers and glitter.
Description
A white tiger cub sitting on rocks in a glass globe on a relief base.
Notes
Possibly from the Sigried and Roy show in Las Vegas.
Description
(NULL)
Notes
Description
Horse and buggy. White snow and glitter. Made in China stamped in the bottom.
Description
What we get from cows: milk, cheese, and big red barns.
Description
Floating pangea-esque globe. Glitter. Made in Taiwan is printed on the globe.
Notes