News

On view September 30, 2025 – May 3, 2026
The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, Tucson, Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz.—The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is proud to present Ray Harryhausen: Miniature Models of the Silver Screen, an extraordinary exhibition featuring more than 130 archival works from one of cinema’s most influential artists. On view from September 30, 2025, through May 3, 2026, the exhibition brings Harryhausen’s legendary “creatures—always creatures, never monsters,” as he famously insisted—on loan from the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity No SC001419) in Scotland.

Harryhausen is celebrated as the legendary pioneer of stop-motion animation, but his creations are more than special effects—they are cultural touchstones. His miniature armatures broaden the scope of how miniatures can be understood: not only as cinematic tools, but as objects with social, historical, and artistic significance. These small-scale models embody myth, innovation, and imagination—bridging traditional storytelling with modern cinema and special effects in ways that continue to resonate across generations.

Miniatures as Storytellers

From Mother Goose Stories (1946), crafted with the help of his parents, to cinematic milestones like Jason and the Argonauts (1963), The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), and Clash of the Titans (1981), Harryhausen used miniatures to bring impossible worlds to life. His father built the armatures, his mother designed the costumes, and together they transformed his Mother Goose Stories and Fairy Tales into moving stories. What began as objects of play and imagination became the foundation of a career that revolutionized film.

Harryhausen’s groundbreaking “Dynamation” technique allowed live actors to interact with his models, making mythological creatures tangible and thrilling. His influence is visible in the work of George Lucas, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro, and Tim Burton—filmmakers who credit his vision for inspiring their own. In recognition of this legacy, his 7th Voyage of Sinbad has been preserved by the Library of Congress as a culturally significant work.

Exhibition Highlights

Ray Harryhausen: Miniature Models of the Silver Screen showcases all 16 feature films from throughout Harryhausen’s career, including:

• Clash of the Titans (1981) – Medusa, Kraken, & Pegasus
• Jason and the Argonauts (1963) – Talos, Hydra, & Skeleton Warriors
• The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) – Cyclops
• Mighty Joe Young (1949)
• The Valley of Gwangi (1969) – Ornithomimus
• Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)
• One Million Years B.C. (1966) – Triceratops & Pterodactyl

Alongside the armatures, the exhibition will showcase artist sketches, original artworks, film paraphernalia, and archival footage, allowing visitors to experience the full creative process behind Harryhausen’s legendary films.

Programs & Special Events

To deepen the exploration of Harryhausen’s cultural impact, the museum will host:

• 2nd Sunday Mini Matinees – Screenings of Mother Goose Stories and Fairy-Tale shorts (10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm), designed to educate and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.
• Opening Reception | October 3, 2025 – Featuring Vanessa Harryhausen, daughter of Ray and author of Ray Harryhausen: Titan of Cinema. The evening includes exhibition access, refreshments, a signature cocktail, and a book signing. SOLD OUT
• Special Screening & Q&A | October 4, 2025, at The Loft Cinema – Jason and the Argonauts followed by a discussion with Vanessa Harryhausen and Connor Heaney, Collections Manager at the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation.
  

Community Partnerships

The museum is proud to partner with local businesses to make the Harryhausen experience even more special:

• LeBuzz Caffé will debut the Ancho Medusa Mocha—a dark chocolate and espresso blend accented with ancho chile and fresh orange peel. Guests who purchase this drink will receive a discounted museum ticket.
• Lodge on the Desert, a beloved Tucson boutique hotel, will offer 20% off rooms for exhibition visitors (Rate Code: MINI | Corporate ID: CORP239).
  

Honoring the Founders

This exhibition would have been especially beloved by museum founders Patricia and Walter Arnell. Walter, an avid filmmaker in the 1970s, documented his travels across East Africa, the Arctic, and Antarctica, as well as the growth of the museum. As a Professor of Engineering, he would have particularly appreciated how Ray’s father, Fred Harryhausen, also had a background in engineering and contributed to Ray’s technical work with armatures and film equipment.

“Filmmaking was one of Walter’s personal passions, and showcasing how miniatures were used in the film industry for special effects would have truly delighted him,” said the museum’s curator, Emily Wolverton.

About the Museum

The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is a nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to preserving and advancing the art of miniatures. Through dynamic exhibits, educational programming, and community engagement, the museum inspires imagination and curiosity in visitors of all ages.

About the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation

Founded by Ray Harryhausen on April 10, 1986, the Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation is a charitable trust dedicated to preserving, archiving, and promoting Harryhausen’s body of work. The Foundation safeguards his name, legacy, and extensive collection—estimated at over 50,000 items, including original armatures, models, artwork, moulds, stills, negatives, screenplays, and test footage.