National Toy Hall of Fame

The National Toy Hall of Fame is an American hall of fame that recognizes the contributions of toys and games that have sustained their popularity for many years. Criteria for induction include: icon status (the toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered); longevity (more than a passing fad); discovery (fosters learning, creativity, or discovery); and innovation (profoundly changed play or toy design).[1] Established in 1998 under the direction of Ed Sobey, it was originally housed at A. C. Gilbert's Discovery Village in Salem, Oregon, United States, but was moved to the Strong National Museum of Play (now The Strong) in Rochester, New York, in 2002 after it outgrew its original home.

Seventy-two toys have been enshrined in the National Toy Hall of Fame:

Original inductees (1998-99)

The original inductees to the National Toy Hall of Fame were announced in November 1999. Students from nearby Willamette University protested (good naturedly) when they learned that Mr. Potato Head and Barbie's friend Ken were not included.[2]
Barbie Crayola Crayon Erector Set Etch A Sketch Frisbee Hula hoop Lego Lincoln Logs Marbles Monopoly Play-Doh Radio Flyer wagon Roller Skates Teddy Bear Tinkertoy View-Master Duncan Yo-Yo	The classic red-and-white Etch A Sketch model	Hand-made marbles from West Africa

Class of 2000

This year's selections were chosen from a field of 34 nominations by a panel of educators and civic leaders that included Sharon Kitzhaber, wife of Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber.[3] Nominees rejected for the honor this year included G.I. Joe, the Nintendo Entertainment System, the soccer ball, Beanie Babies, the baseball glove and the cap gun.[3]
Bicycle Jacks Jump rope Mr. Potato Head Slinky	A Triumph bicycle with a step-through frame	A set of jacks	Metal Slinky		A girl playing with a jump rope

Class of 2001

Both children and adults created a list of 82 nominees over the past year. A national panel of distinguished educators and civic leaders choose two toys for induction this year.[4] Silly Putty Tonka Trucks[4]

An old-style steel toy bottom-dump truck by Tonka

Silly Putty molded into a cube

Class of 2002

There were more than ninety nominees this year.[5] Jigsaw puzzle Raggedy Ann: her induction this year came after a full year of campaigning from fans.[5]

Raggedy Ann meets Raggedy Andy for the first time; illustrated by Johnny Gruelle

A completed Jigsaw puzzle

Class of 2003

Alphabet Blocks Checkers[6]

Blocks with letters and numbers

English draughts board (aka checkers)

Class of 2004

G.I. Joe: the G.I. JOE brand overwhelmed the competition in a Playthings Magazine poll asking which nominated toy most deserved to be honored.[7] Rocking horse Scrabble

A rocking horse

A game of Scrabble in progress

Class of 2005

Candy Land[8] Cardboard box[9] Jack-in-the-box

A jack-in-the box

Staple corrugated box

Class of 2006

This year’s nominees were: Atari Game System, Big Wheel, Easy-Bake Oven, Lite-Brite, Fisher-Price Little People, Hot Wheels, Lionel Trains, Operation Skill Game, Pez candy dispenser, rubber duck, skateboard, and Twister.[10] Only two of the twelve nominees took their place in the hall that year. Easy-Bake Oven[1] Lionel Trains[1]

The first three versions of the Easy-Bake oven

Lionel Corporation products

Class of 2007

Atari 2600[11] Kite[12] Raggedy Andy[13]

Atari 2600 four-switch "wood veneer" version, while the original 2600 had six switches.

Raggedy Ann meets Raggedy Andy for the first time; illustrated by Johnny Gruelle

A simple geometric kite with a tail. The kite is Veggie Tales themed.

Class of 2008

The following toys were added in 2008:[14]

1. The Stick: Curators praised the stick for its all-purpose, no-cost, recreational qualities, noting its ability to serve either as raw material or an appendage transformed in myriad ways by a child's creativity.
2. The Baby Doll
3. The Skateboard

A dog with a stick

A girl and her doll in the 1900s.

Skateboarder doing a flip

Class of 2009

The following toys were added in 2009:[15]

The ball Game Boy Big Wheel

A boy playing with a ball

Nintendo Game Boy

Big Wheel

Class of 2010

The following toys were added in 2010:[16]

The Game of Life Playing cards

A board from The Game of Life

Playing cards

Class of 2011

The following toys were added in 2011:[17]

Hot Wheels Dollhouse Blanket

A Hot Wheels car

A three story dollhouse

A blanket fort

Class of 2012

The following toys were added in 2012:[18]

Star Wars action figures Dominoes

Domino tiles

Class of 2013

The following toys were added in 2013:[19]

Chess Rubber duck

Two boys playing chess

Rubber ducks

Class of 2014

The following toys were added in 2014:[20]

Little green army men Bubbles Rubik's Cube

Bucket of army men

A child blowing soap bubbles

Rendering of a Rubik's Cube

Class of 2015

The following toys were added in 2015:[21]

Puppet Twister Super Soaker

A German hand puppet

A patent illustration for Twister

Class of 2016

The following toys were added in 2016:[22]

Dungeons and Dragons Little People Swing

A game of Dungeons & Dragons

A girl on a swing

Class of 2017

The following toys were added in 2017:[23]

Clue Wiffle Ball Paper airplane

A Wiffle Ball

A paper airplane made from newspaper

Class of 2018

The following toys were added in 2018:[24]

Magic 8-Ball Pinball Uno

A Magic 8-Ball

The Pinball Hall of Fame

A deck of Uno cards

Class of 2019

Coloring book Magic: The Gathering Matchbox cars

A child coloring in a coloring book

Playing Magic: The Gathering

Matchbox cars

See also

• Toy Industry Hall of Fame, recognizing the contributions of toy-makers.
• List of toys and children's media awards

References

1. staff (2006-11-09). "Hall of Famers: Easy-Bake, Lionel". Playthings. Archived from the original on 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
2. Vader, J.E. (1999-11-01). "Where the Toys Are". VIA Magazine. Archived from the original on 2007-12-30. Retrieved 2008-02-14. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
3. "New inductees to Toy Hall of Fame". Cable News Network. Associated Press. 2000-03-23. Archived from the original on March 19, 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
4. "Tonka to be Inducted Into National Toy Hall of Fame; Hasbro Brand Honored for its Rich Tradition of Creating Durable and Fun Vehicles". Business Wire. CNET. 2001-03-28. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
5. "Raggedy Ann Inducted in National Toy Hall of Fame". Raving Toy Maniac. 2002-03-27. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
6. "View-Master Inducted into National Toy Hall of Fame". 3-D Review Online Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
7. "GI JOE and SCRABBLE Honored with Induction into National Toy Hall of Fame". Business Wire. 2004-11-12. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
8. Elliot, Debbie (2005-11-19). "An Underdog Favorite Makes Toy Hall of Fame". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
9. "Cardboard box added to Toy Hall of Fame". USA Today. Associated Press. 2005-11-12. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
10. "National Toy Hall of Fame Final Nominees Announced" (Press release). Strong National Museum of Play. 2006-09-15. Archived from the original on 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
11. Dobbin, Ben (2007-11-08). "Atari 2600, Raggedy Andy, Kite Enshrined". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
12. "Toy Hall of Fame Welcomes Atari 2600, the Kite and Raggedy Andy". Fox News. Associated Press. 2007-11-08. Archived from the original on 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
13. "Raggedy Andy Reunited with Raggedy Ann in the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York". Raggedy Land. Playthings. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
14. "Stick, skateboard, Baby Doll enter Toy Hall of Fame". CNN.com. Archived from the original on 2008-11-08. Retrieved 11/07/08. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
15. "''Ball, Game Boy, Big Wheel enter toy hall of fame'', retrieved 5 Nov 2009". Rbj.net. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
16. "Playing cards, the Game of Life join Toy Hall of Fame". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. Gannett Company. November 4, 2010. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
17. "Three toys inducted into Hall of Fame". Rochester Business Journal. Rochester, New York. November 10, 2011. Archived from the original on November 10, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
18. "Toy Hall of Fame avoids the Dark Side, inducts 'Star Wars' action figures". MercuryNews.com. November 15, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
19. "Chess, rubber duck join Toy Hall of Fame - Rochester Business Journal New York business news and information". Archived from the original on 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
20. "2014 National Toy Hall of Fame Inductees Announced".
21. "Three toys are new inductees to National Toy Hall of Fame - Rochester Business Journal New York business news and information". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
22. Waxman, Olivia B. "These Toys Were Just Inducted Into the National Toy Hall of Fame". Time.
23. https://www.snopes.com/2017/11/09/clue-wiffle-ball-paper-airplane-toy-hall-of-fame/
24. https://apnews.com/c95df0a0f8f04c50848b279e58b4866a

External links

• National Toy Hall of Fame at Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, NY
• Raggedy Ann Inducted in the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2002