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The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg is offering a bit of holiday tradition with "Playthings! Highlights from the Toy Collection." The exhibition replaces the annual "Holiday Toy and Train Exhibition," which had to be shelved when the museum extended "American Scenery: Different Views in Hudson River School Painting" until Dec. 31.

"It's not the big display with the train layout that usually takes place in our main changing exhibition gallery upstairs," said Judy Linsz Ross, director of marketing and visitor services. "But we wanted to have some toys out because it is that time of year. We wanted the museum to be festive."

An annual display that typically includes nearly 600 toys has been scaled back to "97 or so," said Barbara Jones, curator. The exhibit occupies the paneled rooms on the museum's second floor. It will run through Jan. 29.

"We've put out the highlights of our collection," Jones said. "Sort of our 'greatest hits,' I guess you would say."

Visitors will be treated to the museum's beautiful assemblage of dolls, said the curator. Of particular note is a doll once belonging to museum benefactor, Mary Marchand Woods.

"It's still in its original clothing," Jones noted. "And it dates from about 1865."

Another in the exhibit is a china-head doll dressed as Mary Todd Lincoln in mourning clothes. It also dates from 1865.

A 2004 addition to the museum's collection is a group of miniature bisque dolls.

"They're little tiny things," said Jones. "The tallest one is probably only 3 inches tall."

Flight aficionados will enjoy an autographed tri-motor replica of the plane piloted by Amelia Earhart. The cast-iron airplane is one of several signed by Earhardt during a reception hosted by Pittsburgh industrialist Arthur Braun in 1929.

"She signed these small-scale replicas," said Jones. "And they were given away as party favors."

Additionally, the exhibit includes an assortment of Steiff Teddy Bears, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Felix the Cat, two working kitchen stoves, sailboats, and "lots of wind-up things that move," said Jones.

The curator maintains a smaller set-up is advantageous.

"Because it's not a big, overwhelming display, you get an ever better chance to look at the toys," she said. "They're in cases. You can get closer to them. You're able to really see them."

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