Travel nostalgia at Tivoli Miniature World

Whatever happened to miniature villages? Back in the 1980s and 1990s, children and families in Ontario were spoiled by these attractions filled with small-scale replicas.

Tivoli Miniature World in Niagara Falls, Canada was opened in the early 1990s, after moving from its original location in Prudhomme’s Landing on the shores of Lake Ontario. It featured 75 miniature reproductions at 1/50 scale of several famous international sites, mostly made of fibreglass. Although it was a somewhat popular local attraction, the theme park eventually went bankrupt and closed in 1995.

I was browsing old photo albums at my mom’s house the other day, and came across this one of us in front of miniature Osaka Castle. We also visited tiny Florence Cathedral, teeny Eiffel Tower, and little Church of the Savior on Blood.

The photo of Osaka Castle stood out to me, particularly because I look so grumpy standing there next to my parents. Perhaps I was disappointed that I had to make do with this mini version instead of a trip to Japan. Little did I know that, 30 years later, I would actually get to see the real, big Osaka Castle in person!