The Morris Museum was awarded the Murtogh D. Guinness collection of 700 historic mechanical musical instruments and automata (mechanical figures) and more than 5,000 programmed media, ranging from player piano rolls to pinned cylinders in 2003.

The extraordinary collection represents one of the most significant of its kind in the world. The museum recently unveiled a permanent installation of the spectacular exhibition Musical Machines & Living Dolls: Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata from the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection in

November 2007 in a brand new 4,300 square- foot gallery. The new exhibition features more than 150 pieces from the spectacular collection and takes visitors on a journey through the history of on-demand musical entertainment.

As a vibrant educational and cultural center in New Jersey, the Morris Museum is honored to share this world-class collection with the public. The museum looks forward to being an international destination for the unique subject of mechanical musical instruments and automata.

Live demonstrations of several of the objects from the Guinness collection are held daily:

Wednesdays - Sundays at 2 p.m.

Click on the images below to learn more about these featured collection pieces. You will be able to view video clips and/or hear the sounds from many of these objects. Also, explore the links to the right to learn more about this collection.