We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Collectibles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the National Toy Hall of Fame?

By A. B. Kelsey
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 8,784
Share

The National Toy Hall of Fame is an American museum that was created to celebrate the nation's classic toys and playthings. The hall was founded in 1998 by A. C. Gilbert's Discovery Village, a children's museum in Salem, Oregon.

The village was named in honor of A. C. Gilbert, the creator of the Erector Set, an engineering toy that allowed children to build elaborate items such as bridges and Ferris wheels. He also marketed educational playthings such as chemistry sets, telegraph sets, American Flyer® trains, and MystoMagic® sets. A. C. Gilbert wanted his toys to combine playing and learning, and realized that toys could encourage creative expression as well as satisfy a child’s natural curiosity about the world.

The mission of the National Toy Hall of Fame parallels Gilbert's goal, and it chooses to recognizes only the toys that have national significance in the world of play and imagination. By 2002, the museum had outgrown its original home and was moved to Rochester, New York, where it became a part of the Strong National Museum of Play, which houses over 70,000 toys, dolls, and games.

There is a specific process for selecting the toys that make it into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Any child or adult can nominate their favorite toy via the US mail, the Internet, or at the Strong Museum of Play. An internal museum advisory committee made up of educators, museum curators, and historians review the nominations and determine which toys meet the criteria for selection. A National Selection Committee then reviews the list of toys and each member votes for his or her top picks for induction. Then the votes are tallied and the toys that get the most votes are inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.

There are several criteria a toy has to meet. This criteria includes icon-status, which means the toy is widely recognized, remembered and respected. The toy or game must also boast longevity, which means it has enjoyed popularity for multiple generations and is not just a passing fad. The toy must also have contributed to discovery by fostering learning and creativity. Finally, the toy must be innovative, meaning the toy must have profoundly changed the way people play or the toy's design was new and revolutionary.

Thirty-nine toys have been enshrined in the National Toy Hall of Fame since 1999. The opening class of inductees was a long list of 18 toys. Original selections included the Erector Set, the Barbie® doll, Crayola® Crayons, the Frisbee, the Hula Hoop, and the Etch-A-Sketch®. Other inducted toys included Legos®, Lincoln Logs®, marbles, Play Doh®, the Radio Flyer® Wagon, roller skates, and the teddy bear. Tinkertoys®, View-Master®, the Duncan Yo-Yo®, and the board game Monopoly® were also selected for their longevity in the first year.

Since the Strong Museum of Play took over the National Toy Hall of Fame, only a few toys are inducted each year. The year 2000 saw the bicycle, jacks, the jump rope, Slinky®, and Mr. Potato Head® added to the hall. The following year, the only two inductions were Silly Putty® and Tonka® Trucks.

In 2002, there were more than 90 nominations, but Raggedy Ann and jigsaw puzzles were the only inductees. The class of 2003 saw alphabet blocks and checkers added to the growing list, while 2004 was the year of G. I. Joe®, the rocking horse, and the Scrabble® board game.

The inductees for 2005 included Candy Land®, the jack-in-the-box and the plain, simple cardboard box. In 2006, only the Easy Bake Oven® and Lionel Trains made the cut.

In 2007, the kite, Raggedy Andy, and the sophisticated but obsolete Atari 2600 system were chosen to join the National Hall of Fame’s all-star lineup of classic playthings. It is interesting to note that the Atari video game system was the most recently invented toy in the hall. The kite, on the other hand, is believed to be the oldest having been invented in China almost 3,000 years ago.

Created not only to recognize the importance of those classic toys, the Hall of Fame also celebrates the imagination of the toy makers. Toys and their creators are an important part of American history. They hold the memories, symbolize the ideas, and reflect the values of the generation who created them.

Share
Sports n' Hobbies is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By Phaedrus — On Mar 27, 2014

I can't believe there aren't more modern toys in the Toy Hall of Fame already. Maybe the selection committee doesn't want to be accused of looking too trendy. I'd certainly put the Rubik's Cube and the electronic toy Merlin in the Toy Hall of Fame.

By Ruggercat68 — On Mar 26, 2014

I think I could easily spend two or three days going through a National Toy Hall of Fame exhibition. There are a lot of toys I remember from childhood that I haven't seen anywhere in over 40 years. My parents were very generous when it came to toys at Christmas and birthdays, so my house was very popular with the neighborhood kids. I'd really like to see some toys that have been discontinued over the years.

Share
https://www.sportsnhobbies.org/what-is-the-national-toy-hall-of-fame.htm
Copy this link
Sports n' Hobbies, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Sports n' Hobbies, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.