Largest museum collection of ventriloquist dummies
- Who
- Vent Haven Ventriloquism Museum
- What
- 1,145 total number
- Where
- United States (Fort Mitchell)
- When
- 29 September 2025
The largest museum collection of ventriloquist dummies is 1,145, achieved by the Vent Haven Museum (USA) in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, USA, as of 29 September 2025.
Ventriloquism first originated thousands of years ago, supposedly used in ancient Egypt around 2000 BCE for religious purposes and believed to allow communication with spirits. It then moved to being recognized as an art form by the 18th century, including puppets or "dummies" as a popular form of entertainment.
The Vent Haven was founded in 1937 and is the only museum devoted entirely to the art of ventriloquism. It's founder, W.S. Berger's (USA) (full name - William Shakespeare Berger) has been a lifelong passionate fan of ventriloquism.
While on a business trip to New York he bought his very first ventriloquist dummy, who he named Tommy Baloney. This got his collection started until it amassed to what is it is today, with the oldest pieces now dating back to the American Civil War.