toy story

New Houston Toy Museum showcases rare, unforgettable collector pieces in the Heights

Luke Skywalker action figure Houston Toy Museum

The Force is strong with this original Luke Skywalker figure.

Kids and grownup kids can soon delight in a toy-lover’s paradise. The Houston Toy Museum will celebrate a grand opening on Thursday, October 6 in the historic Heights. The toy museum (321 W. 19th St., Suite C) will be housed in the former home of thrift store Retropolis.

Passionate toy fans and casual viewers can gaze upon thousands of artifacts, some, like preserved teddy bears, dating back to the 1890s. As they browse, visitors can learn the origins of the toys they know and love while exploring exhibits covering everything from S.T.E.A.M. toys to racial representation and gender stereotypes in the toy industry, according to press materials.

Standouts include a 1985 G.I. Joe U.S.S. Flagg aircraft carrier, a “holy grail find,” Matt Broussard, the museum’s Chief Toy Officer (greatest title ever), tells CultureMap. The carrier ranges from $1,600 to $2,000 in online auction sites.

Other can’t-miss pieces include an original Mickey Mouse from the early 1930s, vintage Match Box trucks, and a 1972 Batman figure (that totally screams “bam!” and “pow!”) replete with the original cloth costume. A must-have for any Gen-Xer or sci-fi fan: several Star Wars action figures, including Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Darth Vader.

Barbie fans can enjoy a Barbie — in-box — that comes with additional wigs, circa 1960s, as well as the beloved and popular Malibu Barbie. Strawberry Shortcake fans will delight in several dolls.

Given the rare (read: expensive) status of these toys, items will be showcased behind thick glass. But, as Broussard notes, “you can’t let a kid walk through a toy museum and not let them touch a toy.” Thus, designated play areas feature vintage toys, coloring books, and video game stations featuring original Nintendo , Atari, Playstation 2 consoles. Even infants can indulge via a soft play station.

While a majority of the toys will quickly evoke an “oh yeah!” or “I remember that!” from viewers, some may elicit some side-eyes or even gasps, as they reflect an era of less cultural sensitivity to ethnic groups and women. But they’re all a part of toy history and reflect the culture of the times, Broussard reminds.

A labor of love between Broussard and his wife Sara, the toy museum has been in the works for two years and delayed due to renovations. As the curator, Matt Broussard says his toy collection, which he’s been accumulating for more than 15 years, will be constantly changing and updated.

“The hunt,” he says, echoing toy collectors everywhere, “is never over.”

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Houston Toy Museum; 321 W. 19th, Suite C in The Heights. For hours and more information, visit the official site.

Unhappy holidays

Porch pirates swipe nearly $2B in packages from Texas homes this year

Porch Pirate Person in Glasses Steals Packages

Getty Images

The Grinch isn't the only one stealing Christmas these days.

’Tis the season for porch pirates. If past trends are an indicator, the Grinch will swipe close to $2 billion worth of packages delivered to Texas households this year, with many of those thefts happening ahead of the holiday season.

An analysis of FBI and survey data by ecommerce marketing company Omnisend shows porch pirates stole more than $1.8 billion worth of packages from Texans’ porches last year. Porch pirates hit nearly one-third of the state’s households in 2024, according to the analysis.

Omnisend’s analysis reveals these statistics about porch piracy in Texas:

30.1 million residential package thefts in 2024.
An average household loss of $169 per year.
An annual average of 2.9 package thefts per household.

“Most stolen items are cheap on their own, but add them up, and retailers and consumers are facing an enormous bill,” says Omnisend.

Another data analysis, this one from The Action Network sports betting platform, unwraps different figures regarding porch piracy in Texas.

The platform’s 2025 Porch Pirate Index ranks Texas as the state with the highest volume of residential thefts, based on 2023-24 FBI data.

Researchers at The Action Network uncovered 26,293 reports of personal property thefts at Texas residences during that period. The network’s survey data indicates 5 percent of Texas residents had a package stolen in the three months before the pre-holiday survey.

The Porch Pirate Index calculates a 25.8 percent risk of a Texas household being victimized by porch pirates, putting it in the No. 5 spot among states with the highest risk of porch piracy.

The Action Network included online-search volume for terms like “package stolen” and “porch pirates.” Sustained spikes in these searches suggest that “people are actively looking for guidance after something has happened. Search trends serve as an early warning system, revealing emerging-risk areas well before annual crime statistics are released,” the network says.

Tips to avoid being a victim
So, how do you prevent porch pirates from snatching packages that end up on your porch? Omnisend, The Action Network and Amazon offer these eight tips:

Closely monitor deliveries and quickly retrieve packages.
Schedule deliveries for times when you’ll be home.
Use delivery lockers or in-store pickup when possible.
Ask delivery services to hide packages in out-of-sight spots outside your home.
Install a visible doorbell camera or security camera.
Coordinate deliveries with neighbors or building managers if you’ll be away from your home when packages are supposed to arrive.
Request that delivery services hold your packages if you can’t be home when they’re scheduled to come.
Illuminate the path to your doorstep and keep porch lights on.

holidays porch pirates crime