Meet Paul Wellington of American Construction Toy Museum

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Wellington.

Hi Paul, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My sister and I appeared on LEGO Masters, season 4, in 2023. After filming the show, I wanted to find a way to give back to the community. In 2024, I became the local ambassador for a non-profit called Pass the Bricks, which entails collecting LEGO, making small sets, and distributing them to kids in need through schools, libraries, summer camps, and community centers.

While sorting donations, I came across many off-brand pieces. I started researching these pieces, which led to an online version of the American Construction Toy (ACT) Museum in late 2024. I had a five year plan to open a physical space, but that turned into five months after my wife and I found a place near our house.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every business has challenges, and we’re no different! Marketing is our biggest issue, as we’re having a hard time reaching our target audience without spending a ton of money. We are, however, slowly making some headway!

We’re also a small space, and we’re constantly trying to maximize our retail, museum, and play space. We’ve made some positive changes since January, which customers seem to enjoy.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The American Construction Toy Museum is a mom-and-pop museum dedicated to preserving the history of building toys in America. Explore LEGO, Lincoln Logs, Erector sets, and more than 200 building toys spanning from the 1800s to today. The ACT Museum is currently the only museum in the United States devoted exclusively to building toys, and just the second of its kind in the country. Discover history, design your own creations in the play space, try your hand with new and vintage sets, and browse the retail shop. A fun experience for kids, families, and building toy lovers of all ages!

The ACT Museum also offers STEAM classes for kids, outreach programs, birthday parties, and adult only events!

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I haven’t stopped building with LEGO since I was three years old. I moved around a lot, so it was one of the few things that remained constant in my life. I was also into K’nex and model trains, but those were short-lived experiences.

Pricing:

• Admission, Adults (13+) – $4
• Admission, Kids (3-12) – $4
• Admission, Adults with kids – $2
• Admission, Kids (0-2) – FREE

Contact Info:

• Website: https://actmuseum.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actmuseum/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actmuseum/