The National Toy Hall of Fame is a U.S. 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.
.jpg) Entrance to The Strong, location of the Toy Hall of Fame | |
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| Established | 1998 |
|---|---|
| Location | The Strong, Rochester, NY |
| Type | Hall of Fame |
| Collections | Toys |
| Website | museumofplay.org/toy-hall-of-fame |
As of 2023, eighty-five (85) 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]
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2000s
Class of 2000
The following toys were added in 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]
Class of 2001
The following toys were added in 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]
Class of 2002
The following toys were added in 2002:
- Jigsaw puzzle
- Raggedy Ann: her induction this year came after a full year of campaigning from fans.[5]
There were more than ninety nominees this year.[5]
Class of 2003
The following toys were added in 2003:
Finalists included: Big Wheel tricycle, Candy Land, Clue, Easy-Bake Oven, jack-in-the-box, Lionel trains, Little People, Magic 8 Ball, Matchbox model cars, and Scrabble.[7]
Class of 2004
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The following toys were added in 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.[8]
- Rocking horse
- Scrabble
Finalists included: Big Wheel tricycle, Cabbage Patch Kids, Candy Land, Easy-Bake Oven, Hot Wheels, Lionel Trains, Little People, Rubik's Cube, and Wiffle ball.[9]
Class of 2005
The following toys were added in 2005:
Finalists included: Atari 2600, Big Wheel tricycle, Cabbage Patch Kids, Clue, Easy-Bake Oven, Hot Wheels, Lionel trains, Little People, Magic 8 Ball, and Wiffle ball. The cardboard box was inducted without nomination.[12]
Class of 2006
The following toys were added in 2006:
Finalists included: Atari Game System, Big Wheel tricycle, Lite-Brite, Little People, Hot Wheels, Operation skill game, Pez candy dispenser, the rubber duck, the skateboard, and Twister.[13]
Class of 2007
The following toys were added in 2007:
Finalists included: The baby doll, Big Wheel tricycle, The Game of Life, Hot Wheels, My Little Pony dolls, the pogo stick, Spirograph, and Yahtzee.[17]
Class of 2008
The following toys were added in 2008:[18]
- 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.
- The baby doll
- The skateboard
Finalists included: Clue, the dollhouse, Flexible flyer sleds, The Game of Life, Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, Rubik's Cube, Thomas the Tank Engine, Wiffle ball, and Yahzee. The stick was inducted without nomination.[19]
Class of 2009
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The following toys were added in 2009:[20]
Finalists included: Cabbage Patch Kids, The Game of Life, Hot Wheels, the paper airplane, playing cards, Rubik's Cube, sidewalk chalk, the toy tea set, and Transformers action figures.[21]
2010s
Class of 2010
The following toys were added in 2010:[22]
Finalists included: Cabbage Patch Kids, chess, the dollhouse, dominoes, Dungeons & Dragons, Hot Wheels, Lite-Brite, Magic 8 Ball, the pogo stick, and Rubik's Cube.[23]
Class of 2011
The following toys were added in 2011:[24]
Finalists included: Dungeons & Dragons, Jenga, pogo sticks, puppets, radio-controlled cars, Rubik's Cube, Simon, Star Wars action figures, Transformers action figures, and Twister. The blanket was inducted without nomination.[25]
Class of 2012
The following toys were added in 2012:[26]
Finalists included: Corn Popper, Clue, Lite-Brite, little green army men, Magic 8 Ball, the pogo stick, sidewalk chalk, Simon, the toy tea set, and Twister.[27]
Class of 2013
The following toys were added in 2013:[28]
Finalists included: bubbles, Clue, little green army men, Little People, Magic 8 Ball, My Little Pony dolls, Nerf, Pac-Man, scooters, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures.[29]
Class of 2014
The following toys were added in 2014:[30]
- Little green army men
- Bubbles
- Rubik's Cube
Finalists included: American girl dolls, Hess toy trucks, Little People, My Little Pony dolls, Operation skill game, the paper airplane, pots and pans, Slip 'n' Slide, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures.[31]
Class of 2015
The following toys were added in 2015:[32]
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Finalists included: American girl dolls, Battleship, coloring books, Jenga, Playmobil, scooters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures, tops, and Wiffle ball.[33]
Class of 2016
The following toys were added in 2016:[34]
Finalists included: bubble wrap, Care Bears, coloring books, Clue, Nerf, pinball, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, Transformers action figures, and Uno.[35]
Class of 2017
The following toys were added in 2017:[36]
Finalists included: Magic 8 Ball, Matchbox model cars, My Little Pony dolls, PEZ candy dispensers, play food, Risk, sand, Transformers action figures, and Uno.[37]
Class of 2018
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The following toys were added in 2018:[38]
Finalists included: American Girl dolls, chalk, Chutes and Ladders, Corn Popper, Flexible Flyer sleds, Masters of the Universe, tic-tac-toe, Tickle Me Elmo, and Tudor Electric Football.[39]
Class of 2019
The following toys were added in 2019:[40]
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Finalists included: Care Bears, Corn Popper, Jenga, Masters of the Universe, My Little Pony dolls, Nerf Blaster, Risk, smartphones, and tops.[41]
2020s
Class of 2020
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The following toys were added in 2020:[42]
Finalists included: Bingo, Breyer horses, Lite-Brite, Masters of the Universe, My Little Pony dolls, Risk, Sorry!, Tamogatchi, and Yahtzee.[43]
Class of 2021
The following toys were added on November 4, 2021:[44]
- American Girl dolls
- Risk
- Sand
Finalists included: Battleship, billiards, Cabbage Patch Kids, Corn Popper, mahjong, Masters of the Universe, piñata, The Settlers of Catan, and the toy fire engine.[45]
Class of 2022
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The following toys were added on November 10, 2022:[46]
Finalists included: Bingo, Breyer horses, Catan, Nerf, Phase 10, piñata, Pound Puppies, Rack-O, and Spirograph.[47]
Class of 2023
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The following toys were added on November 10, 2023:[48]
Finalists included: Battleship, Bingo, Bop-It, Choose Your Own Adventure books, Connect Four, Ken, Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, slime, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures.[49]
In addition, the Strong highlighted several frequent past finalists as part of a public-driven Forgotten Five vote to induct a fourth toy. Nominees included: Corn Popper, My Little Pony dolls, PEZ candy dispensers, pogo sticks, and Transformers action figures.[50]
See also
- Toy Industry Hall of Fame, recognizing the contributions of toy-makers.
- List of toys and children's media awards
