The Sergiev Posad Toys Museum (Muzei igrushki) holds one of the most unusual collections in Russia — several thousand traditional Russian toys from the 18th century to the 20th, including the earliest known examples of the matryoshka nesting doll, which was first made in Sergiev Posad in 1890. The collection also includes toys belonging to the tsarist imperial family, folk dolls from various regions of Russia, and a room dedicated to Soviet-era toys.
The town has been a centre of toy-making since the 17th century, when monks at the Trinity Lavra began carving small wooden figures as devotional objects that were sold to pilgrims. The craft evolved into a commercial industry, and Sergiev Posad became famous throughout Russia for its wooden toys. The museum is a modest affair but the collection is genuine and surprisingly touching. It is located a short walk from the main square of the town, not far from the Lavra walls.