Fall/Winter 2010

An American Flag proudly hangs on the wall of the Chelsea Teddy Bear Company and Toy Museum in Chelsea, Michigan. But this one’s different — it’s made from hundreds of red, white and blue teddy bears and won the company a world record in 2006 for the largest teddy bear mosaic. Nearby, several glass cases are filled with rare antique toys.

But that’s not what catches your attention first.

A seven-foot stuffed grizzly greets you at the door, and thousands of cute furry eyes stare from rows of shelving: Mott, Dexter, Sebastian, Orson, and, of course, Conner — the company’s signature bear — beckon buyers to pick them up and give them a squeeze.
Prices are reasonable, even for the “made in the U.S.A.” bears —Pancake and Connor.

You can watch both bears being made at the Chelsea factory and warehouse behind a wall of windows. Join the free behind-the-scenes tour on Saturdays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., when the public steps into the inner workings of teddy production to see boxes full of fuzzy friends — the U.S. military is the company’s biggest customer — and tables where designers sketch new characters, develop patterns and assemble Connor and Pancake.

It’s a charming experience that blends the impressive 19th- and early-20th-century private toy collection of museum curator Ken Yenke — including “Knickerbocker,” Shirley Temple’s favourite bear and the Blond Steiff bear whose only remaining counterpart is in the Smithsonian — with a glimpse into the workings of an iconic local company. 

- State - Michigan

- Type - Family Vacations

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