SPENCER — There’s a new face coming to a local institution.

In a recent rebranding, the Spencer Doll and Toy Museum has changed its name to the N.C. Museum of Dolls, Toys and Miniatures.

“We thought we would just expand the name,” founder Beth Nance said.

The museum, located on Fourth Street in Spencer, has been in operation for about five years and has acquired several miniature collections in that time.

“So in order to have a broader scope, we have included miniatures in the name,” Nance said.

The museum also hosts luncheons and workshops about miniatures.

When they looked into a name change, Nance and her mother, Susan Morris, realized that there was no official N.C. museum of dolls and toys and quickly scooped up the name.

Nance and Morris opened the museum five years ago in memory of their sister and daughter, Amy Morris, a passionate doll collector.

“My mother and I thought it would be a wonderful way to honor her,” she said.

The family was involved in the Rowan County Doll Society, and Nance said the women there also inspired her to launch the museum.

These days, the small building is a community feature. The museum hosts educational trips for local schools and luncheons centering around the culture behind certain exhibit pieces. Nance said there is a lot which to learn about history through dolls and the toys that children played with in another time.

“It’s really a glimpse into the past of what our society used to be,” she said.

This year, Nance was honored for preservation and education by the United Federation of Doll Clubs. She said she looks forward to expanding offerings at the museum and continuing to educate the community.

“We’ve really found out that this museum isn’t just about us. It’s about the community and about other collectors. … And it’s a great way for us to remember those who have come before us,” she said.

The museum will host a nighttime golf fundraiser Aug. 18 at Rolling Hills Golf Course. All proceeds will benefit the museum. To register, call 704-239-0683.

For more information about the museum, visit www.ncmdtm.com.

Contact reporter Rebecca Rider at 704-797-4264.