I have know this place for more than 75 or so years. It is always amazing! Mooney was an extremely talented man! And very pleasant. I remember him on a Sunday afternoon, sitting on his chair under the big old shade tree on the front lawn. He always greeted. He'd reach not his pocket and pull out a little block of wood and his knife. With 3 or four cuts, he made a pliers and gave it to me. Ive broken them and lost them over the years. I was skyways impressed with his train collection! All hand carved. Absolutely beautiful. Abd the button house! Amazing! I still hope to get back there some day. read more

I first visited the Warthern Museum over 30 years ago and have been back several times. Recently we had out-of-town relatives visiting and were looking for something to do. So, a trip to Amish country and then a side trip to the Warther Museum was the ticket. Earnest Warther was a master carver and he carved a wide array of amazing carvings - mostly of trains. The detail in his carvings is incredible. Warther was sel-taught and he actually made some of his own knives because he could not find what he needed in the stores. His craving and craftmanship is amazing. This is a MUST-SEE attraction in the Dover/New Philadelpha area. Allow at least 2 hours (longer if you have time) to thoroughly enjoy this museum. read more

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My three year old and I enjoyed the tree festival, but I'll need to come back to fully appreciate the scope of the museum. Friendly staff. Easy parking. Beautifully done tree display for the holidays. There is so much that I don't know about this museum and the family and the artistic talent of Ernest Warther. read more

Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens - Museums Near Me - Dover, Ohio

This is always a fun place to take my grandkids. There is so much to read and learn about Ernest Warther. The staff are pleasant, and parking lot is paved. The building is beautiful inside and out! read more

Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens - Museums Near Me - Dover, Ohio

Valued by the Smithsonian Institution as "priceless", this is a must see destination for anybody with a love for carving, trains or history. It is hard to capture in mere words the incredible handiwork that makes this museum what it is. Hand carved steam locomotives such as you will not find anywhere else in the world are the focal point of this museum. Each hand carved locomotive is an exact, scale model of the real counterpart. Wheels move, pistons function and drive rods articulate. The detail on these models is exquisite. The Lincoln Funeral Train is breathtaking. Any arrowhead enthusiasts will be delighted to see the many hundreds that the original artist collected and hung in his workshop. The grounds themselves are beautiful and a great place to capture photographs of family and friends amidst the flowering trees and many manicured flower beds. The museum has a modest gift shop. Parking is ample and adequate. Admission is reasonable. Restrooms were sparkling clean. The staff was friendly and accommodating. When you are done here, head over to Sugar Creek and check out this carver's grandson's work. The David Warther Museum in Sugar Creek hosts the same talent in the medium of sailing ships. read more

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My family have been coming to the area for a few years now but had never made it to this museum before. I can say without a doubt it's become one of my favorite places on the area. The skill and craftsmanship that went into his models is beyond anything I could have imagined. I legitimately spent an enormous amount of time examine all the intricate details he carved into each piece. His genius is clearly displayed in each piece, from the incredible plier tree to the full ivory model of the train that set a 30 year lasting speed record. I'm beyond thrilled that this museum keeps his pieces in good condition and allows future generations to see the fruits of his labor and the kind of outgoing brilliant man he was. I will definitely come back at some point in the future. read more

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This is a must see. This is without question the coolest museum I have just stumbled upon from a sign on the side of the highway. I was amazed by his early works and then just utterly blown away by his later train pieces. Do yourself a favor and stop in and appreciate the time, passion, and skill Mooney had to create these. I was told his son also has a museum nearby but we weren't able to see it as well before it closed at 5:00 read more

Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens - Museums Near Me - Dover, Ohio

A group of nine of us visited the Warther Museum yesterday! I was there once when Mr. Warther was still Living and carving! Now he is gone, but what treasures he has left behind. There is a fantastic Museum display rooms of his prize carving! They will impact you with the skill and effort he spent carving each piece including some with moving motorized parts! He mostly used specific woods for his carvings. He also used ivory ( when legal) to carve beautiful white carvings including a full miniature train and Luther Beautiful pieces! He loved people And especially children! You have to visit the lady that did our tour walk was excellent in giving stories and details about all the pieces! She and a film describe how he got started as a child and continued his whole life! He actually worked a full time job to support his family! On the same property very sort walk, are the buttons house, Swiss-style gardens, knife Factory, Warther Home, And warther's workshop. There is very little walking and place to sit if needed! There is good parking in front of the Museum for a short walk! Also, there is ram walk from there secondary parking lot! There is plenty of parking a extended parking behind the location (round the block)! You deserved to see this and your kids will love seeing and hearing about the carvings and the man that did them! Our group of nine was trilled for the visit and tour! read more

Thank goodness I visited! I have heard about this museum for years and never really had any interest in visiting. We were in the area and decided to stop. What a fascinating and motivated man. His wife Fieda was nonless admirable. Both said don't spend time,,, do something with it. They were both intent on leaving something that would outlast them. They had little money but much love, raising five children in a small little home Frieda also spent time on her gardens which were full of vegetables to feed her family until they grew up and she converted to flower beds full of beautiful color and variety. You can buy seeds from her original plants to this day. There is a small building, the old workshop, dedicated to displaying some of her button collections. She collected historic and I teresing buttons which she arranged artistically into beautiful creations. The main attraction here is Mooney Warthers carvings. So interesting and sheer genius to create. You have to visit and take the narrate dtour tonfly appreciate his extraordinary talent. Hailed to this day as the best carver in the world. His fascination was with steam engines. Recreated to engineering detail with all workable parts from ebony and ivory, his engines are miracles of vision and craft. All this from a man with hit a second grade education! Truly remarkable in all aspects. I highly recommend. read more

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I didn't go through the museum but I went to the Gift shopping and the knife store. We ended buying some stuff. The staff could not have been friendlier. I was very happy. read more

This is a really nice museum to visit if you are in the area. The tour guides are very good. The story of 'Mooney' Warther is interesting. We spent about 90 minutes seeing all of the museum, which includes a short video in a very nice theater room. read more

Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens - Museums Near Me - Dover, Ohio

I loved the warthers museum great place I loved there Christmas tree display around Christmas time. The workers are very nice great place for school field trips. read more

We thought there would be handmade things to purchase but it was a regular gift shop . Nice museum

Wonderfully preserved legacy of an uncommon genius.....thanks for your hard work in keeping the golden work of Mooney alive!

I didn't think much when my boyfriend and I went to visit, but I absolutely loved it! If you like model trains or incredible woodcarvings, this museum is a must. I have been three times now and would still go back. The tour guides are wonderful and are clearly passionate about Mooney and his works of art. Each does their tour a little different so you learn something new every time. I never knew something so beautiful and unique was nestled in rural Ohio. read more

The carved trains of ivory and precious tropical woods are absolutely amazing. These were made decades before the ivory trade was outlawed. If you are within an hour's drive of here, it is worth going out of your way to visit. Moony Warther was perhaps the world's master carver of his time, a self-taught genius. He even designed and manufactured the carving knives that he used. If you drive past Dover on I-77, stop in here. If you drive through Cambridge Ohio on I-70, it is worth making a side trip up I-77, to Dover to visit this museum. If you are a professional carver, or serious hobby carver, it is worth a trip from anywhere to see this man's works. Allow at least 2 hours, and take the offical tour. Check their website for current hours of operation. Also visit the knife store to buy very high quality kitchen knives, made with the finest stainless steel, and wood handles. This cutlery is the business that he left for his children, and it is now operated by his grand-children. Or buy online. http://www.yelp.com/biz/warther-knives-and-gift-shop-dover The five-star reviews are not an exaggeration. read more

Eyepopping (literally) display of intricately hand-carved wooden items, including entire hand-carved miniature trains--and when I say handcarved, I mean even the miniature rivets. My favorite was always the carved ebony and ivory replica of the Lincoln Funeral Train. It's lighted like a real train, an in the funeral car you can see a tiny replica of the coffin with Lincoln's face visible through the little window that coffins used to have. You will not be able to believe the items carved by Ernest Warther, a master woodcarver, that are on display here. There is also a huge display of arrowheads, buttons, and a really cool iron meteorite. Adjacent to the Warther Woodworking company and the Warther Knife company where you can buy beautiful handcrafted knives and other items. 330-343-7513 read more

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This is a must see!! I have lived in the area for 42 years and didn't know this gem was in the area. It's so awesome to know this is a family owned and ran museum. They know the ins and outs of Mooney. read more

This should be a must see for anyone in the area. I went with my parents and grandparents as a child and recently went again. The museum is staffed by very knowledgeable and friendly staff, some who are family members. They know about every detail you could imagine. The facilities are lovingly cared for. The garden, trains, and button house are great to see too. Make sure to go to the shop to look at the products they make. I have several Warther kitchen knives and got a couple more on the last visit too. I still have my mom's Warther pairing knife which she got probably 40 years ago and it still is sharp and cuts great. read more

Awesome. Amazing place. Planned on an hour visit and stayed for 4. Would have stayed longer if schedule permitted. Carvings are true works of art. Indescribable in the detail and workmanship. Tour guide Jean was very fun. Informative but fun without seeming to read from a script. Grounds are lovely. Flowers will be beautiful come summer. Can actually feel how the care this family had for one another and still has. read more

We had a great time. I am not much of a museum person but really enjoyed it. The tour guide was very good too. We had 5 kids with us too. Two 10 year olds, 7, 5 and 2 year old. The 5 and 2 year old were a little young for it. Got the kids all a little pair of wooden pliers for $1.75 and that is it. The knifes were awesome but out of our price range. Oh and in the summer months kids are free. Would highly recommend. read more

Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens - Museums Near Me - Dover, Ohio

Amazing what this man could carve out of wood and Ivory! He was a mechanical genius with only an elementary education. An amazing carving museum and worth the stop off I-77, highly recommended! read more

On 10/17/21 myself , my 6 yo autistic daughter and a group of 5 others all involved in our homeschool cooperative visited Warthers for a field trip . Upon entry we were told we could do a guided tour or take a self guided tour , we chose self guided with two small ones in tow and their primary co op teacher a member of our group we felt that we could best provide lessons that would capture their interests based on the description on displays. Within moments of our arrival a guided tour swarmed around us in the main area . My daughter lost sight of me and everyone else she knows . She began to walk around this crowd of people , not run , calling out "mommy mommy mommy" it was quite evident and visible that this child has lost her mother . I make my way to her (she is walking around in walking one way to find her in the crowd her teacher the other ) within under a minute I have her by the hand and she has stopped calling out I'm making my way out of the room with her , so as to not disturb the tour further . She is perfectly quiet at this point . This entire scenario took under a minute . The tour guide (John) loudly admonished me to "keep her quiet I am giving a tour !" Once she is already quiet . I apologized and explained she is autistic and feeling overwhelmed. His reply ? Well she isn't wearing a sign ! I told him handicapped people don't have to wear signs . He once again doubled down and stated she has no sign . I left with her and told the lady selling tickets what happened I was refunded my money but nobody else in my party was . Two people in our party lingered behind a few moments , realizing that others didn't know they were with us . Another tour guide apologized to John , rather than step in when he told a mother her handicapped child should wear a sign she accepted this behavior . The ticket selling employee did Not intervene either when told what happened . Three employees condoned this behavior . autism or no autism a child lost in a crowd was noticeable to all . She was doing what we tell lost children to do stay in the place where you last saw your family and call out for them , don't wander . Furthermore , by the time he admonished me to keep her quiet , she was quiet . I had her by the hand and was leading her away . There was no need for this exchange . I apologized to him when he did admonish me , i Explained she was autistic and overwhelmed (though in reality this was more she lost her family ) at which point he told me she should be wearing a sign . Twice . read more

This is an exceptional place about a very interesting person. This museum is everything you want to know about Ernest Warther, his carvings and how they related to the railroad. His work was totally amazing and different. The carvings are truly beautiful and in most cases operating yet. The details and accuracy are world class. Plan to spend at least 3 hours. This is a must to see place. read more

How can you give this place less than 5 stars? You will never come across another museum, store, or anything like it. I visited with my husband, 13 month old, and in-laws, and honestly had no idea where we were going (other than it being a museum) prior to our arrival - when I'm visiting the in-laws, I just go with the flow for the most part. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with their little stray alley cat laying on a heated pad on the entrance. Absolutely adorable. That staff graciously greeted us and eagerly answered any questions we had. My 14 month old was infatuated with all the train models and thats simply because he's a 14 month old obsessed with trains. I can't wait until he's old enough to appreciate the amazing and unique craftsmanship Mr. Warther was graced with. read more

Total amazing. The detail in every train was incredible. A definite must see even if your not a train enthusiast.

This place is amazing. It is very small, but well-worth the trip. The history of Mooney Warther and his family was so fascinating. Don't miss Mrs. Warther's button room, either; it will make your inner crafter come out! We bought a few of their knives (couldn't help ourselves) and can't wait to try them out when we get home. My only regret is that they did not have a decent coffee table book in their gift shop. Someone needs to get that handled: I would drop a $50 without hesitating to have a book showcasing these beautiful works of art! read more

Amazing! We visit the museum often and love it! The grounds are absolutely gorgeous in the warm months and there are no words to describe the exquisite carvings. We also have an extensive collection of their knives. They are a bit pricy but worth every penny! read more

Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens - The path leading up to Mooney's workshop. - Museums Near Me - Dover, Ohio

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This museum is a hidden gem and well worth the trip. Our tour guide, Jim, was very knowledgeable and made the your very enjoyable. The button house was a pleasant surprise. Great place c to take kids and will definitely go again. read more

As a Christmas gift my husband purchased myself a set of custom knives from Warther's Cutlery. I've had them now for several months and couldn't be happier with them. Plus, free knife sharpening! And no drop off. They sharpen them while you wait. Very very happy with the knives. Great purchasing experience all the way around. read more

This unique museum houses many extraordinary works by master carver Ernest "Mooney" Warther. Some of the more amazing pieces are the scissor/plyer tree, President Lincolns funeral train and real ivory carvings all done in such breath taking and exquisite detail that you will be left in awe at the artists talent. A worthy stop for anyone living or traveling through the area. Also check out the knives they still make here. They are all handcrafted, quality pieces of cutlery. read more

At first the suggestion that I see a museum about carving didn't strike me as something I'd ever do. But an open mind paid off. This place was fascinating. read more

This is one place we tell ALL of our friends about. If you are ever within 2 hours of Dover make the trip to see this museum. It is worth ever minute you spend there to admire the sheer genuis of Mooney Warther (we didn't see Mrs. Warther's button collection but it's an interesting "talking point" with people!). We often bring out our tattered and worn "guide book" to try to impress on people just how talented he was. We plan to stop again when we are in the area. YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT! read more

An amazing man with little education,WOW!!!!! Every item on display is unbelievable,especially the Lincoln Funeral train.You really need to take time and visit this treasure here in Tuscarawas County.You won't believe your eyes!!! read more