National Toy Hall of Fame

National Toy Hall of Fame
Entrance to The Strong, location of
the Toy Hall of Fame
Map
Established1998; 26 years ago (1998)
LocationThe Strong, Rochester, NY
TypeHall of Fame
CollectionsToys
Websitemuseumofplay.org/toy-hall-of-fame

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,[2] 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.

As of 2024, eighty-eight (88) toys have been enshrined in the National Toy Hall of Fame:

Original inductees (1998-99)

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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.[3]

Etch A Sketch
Glass-made marbles
Hula hoops
Barbie dolls and creator Ruth Handler
Crayola No. 500
Lego pieces
Tinkertoy pieces
Monopoly board
  1. Barbie
  2. Crayola crayon
  3. Erector Set
  4. Etch A Sketch
  5. Frisbee
  6. Hula hoop
  7. Lego
  8. Lincoln Logs
  9. Marbles
  10. Monopoly
  11. Play-Doh
  12. Radio Flyer wagon
  13. Roller skates
  14. Teddy bear
  15. Tinkertoy
  16. View-Master
  17. Duncan Yo-Yo

2000s

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Class of 2000

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Triumph bicycle
Knucklebones
Metal Slinky
Jump rope

The following toys were added in 2000:

  1. Bicycle
  2. Knucklebones
  3. Jump rope
  4. Mr. Potato Head
  5. Slinky

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.[4] 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.[4]

Class of 2001

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Old-style steel toy bottom-dump truck by Tonka
Silly Putty molded into a cube

The following toys were added in 2001:

  1. Silly Putty
  2. Tonka trucks[5]

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.[5]

Class of 2002

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Raggedy Ann doll
A completed Jigsaw puzzle

The following toys were added in 2002:

  1. Jigsaw puzzle
  2. Raggedy Ann: her induction this year came after a full year of campaigning from fans.[6]

There were more than ninety nominees this year.[6]

Class of 2003

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Blocks with letters and numbers
English draughts board (aka checkers)

The following toys were added in 2003:

  1. Alphabet Blocks
  2. Checkers[7]

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.[8]

Class of 2004

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G.I. Joe cosplayers
A rocking horse
Game of Scrabble in progress

The following toys were added in 2004:

  1. 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.[9]
  2. Rocking horse
  3. 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.[10]

Class of 2005

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Corrugated cardboard box

The following toys were added in 2005:

  1. Candy Land[11]
  2. Cardboard box[12]
  3. Jack-in-the-box

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.[13]

Class of 2006

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The first three versions of the Easy-Bake oven
Lionel Corporation products

The following toys were added in 2006:

  1. Easy-Bake Oven[1]
  2. Lionel Trains[1]

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.[14]

Class of 2007

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Atari 2600 four-switch "wood veneer" version; the original 2600 had six switches
Raggedy Ann meets Raggedy Andy for the first time; illustrated by Johnny Gruelle
A chinese "single line“ kite in flight

The following toys were added in 2007:[15]

  1. Atari 2600[16]
  2. Kite[17]
  3. Raggedy Andy: he was inducted as an extension of Raggedy Ann.[18]

Finalists included: The baby doll, Big Wheel tricycle, The Game of Life, Hot Wheels, My Little Pony dolls, the pogo stick, the skateboard, Spirograph, and Yahtzee.[19]

Class of 2008

[edit]
A dog with a stick
Baby doll
Skateboard

The following toys were added in 2008:[20]

  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

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 Yahtzee. The stick was inducted without nomination.[21]

Class of 2009

[edit]
Ball
Nintendo Game Boy
Big Wheel

The following toys were added in 2009:[22]

  1. The ball
  2. Game Boy
  3. Big Wheel tricycle

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.[23]

2010s

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Class of 2010

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Board from the Game of Life
Playing cards

The following toys were added in 2010:[24]

  1. The Game of Life
  2. Playing cards

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.[25]

Class of 2011

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Hot Wheels car
A three story dollhouse
Blanket fort

The following toys were added in 2011:[26]

  1. Hot Wheels
  2. Dollhouse
  3. Blanket

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.[27]

Class of 2012

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The following toys were added in 2012:[28]

Cosplay of the Star Wars characters
A boxed domino set
  1. Star Wars action figures
  2. Dominoes

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.[29]

Class of 2013

[edit]
Chessboard
Rubber duck

The following toys were added in 2013:[30]

  1. Chess
  2. Rubber duck

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.[31]

Class of 2014

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The following toys were added in 2014:[32]

Plastic green soldier
A child blowing soap bubbles
Rubik's cube
  1. Little green army men
  2. Bubbles
  3. 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.[33]

Class of 2015

[edit]

The following toys were added in 2015:[34]

German hand puppet
Men playing Twister
Super Soaker water gun
  1. Puppet
  2. Twister
  3. Super Soaker

Finalists included: American girl dolls, Battleship, coloring books, Jenga, Playmobil, scooters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures, tops, and Wiffle ball.[35]

Class of 2016

[edit]

The following toys were added in 2016:[36]

Dungeons & Dragons
Swings
  1. Dungeons & Dragons
  2. Little People
  3. Swing

Finalists included: bubble wrap, Care Bears, coloring books, Clue, Nerf, pinball, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, Transformers action figures, and Uno.[37]

Class of 2017

[edit]
Cluedo board
Wiffle ball
Paper airplane

The following toys were added in 2017:[38]

  1. Clue
  2. Wiffle ball
  3. Paper airplane

Finalists included: Magic 8 Ball, Matchbox model cars, My Little Pony dolls, PEZ candy dispensers, play food, Risk, sand, Transformers action figures, and Uno.[39]

Class of 2018

[edit]
Magic 8-Ball
Group of pinball games
Deck of Uno cards

The following toys were added in 2018:[40]

  1. Magic 8 Ball
  2. Pinball
  3. Uno

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.[41]

Class of 2019

[edit]

The following toys were added in 2019:[42]

Cover of a coloring book
People playing Magic: The gathering
Matchbox model cars
  1. Coloring book
  2. Magic: The Gathering
  3. Matchbox model cars

Finalists included: Care Bears, Corn Popper, Jenga, Masters of the Universe, My Little Pony dolls, Nerf Blaster, Risk, smartphones, and tops.[43]

2020s

[edit]

Class of 2020

[edit]
Sidewalk chalk
Jenga tower

The following toys were added in 2020:[44]

  1. Baby Nancy
  2. Sidewalk chalk
  3. Jenga

Finalists included: Bingo, Breyer horses, Lite-Brite, Masters of the Universe, My Little Pony dolls, Risk, Sorry!, Tamogatchi, and Yahtzee.[45]

Class of 2021

[edit]
Risk board game
Children in a sandbox

The following toys were added on November 4, 2021:[46]

  1. American Girl dolls
  2. Risk
  3. 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.[47]

Class of 2022

[edit]
Lite-Brite
Cosplay of Master of the Universe
Spinning top

The following toys were added on November 10, 2022:[48]

  1. Lite-Brite
  2. Masters of the Universe
  3. Top

Finalists included: Bingo, Breyer horses, Catan, Nerf, Phase 10, piñata, Pound Puppies, Rack-O, and Spirograph.[49]

Class of 2023

[edit]
Two boys show off their baseball cards
A Cabbage Patch Kid doll
A Nerf dart and two Nerf balls

The following toys were added on November 10, 2023:[50]

  1. Baseball cards
  2. Cabbage Patch Kids
  3. Corn Popper
  4. Nerf

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.[51]

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.[52]

Class of 2024

[edit]

The following were added on November 12, 2024:[53]

Other finalists, announced on September 18, 2024, included Apples to Apples, balloons, Choose Your Own Adventure books, Hess toy trucks, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, remote control vehicles, Sequence, the stick horse, and trampolines.[54]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c staff (2006-11-09). "Hall of Famers: Easy-Bake, Lionel". Playthings. Archived from the original on 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  2. ^ Lynn, Capi (8 November 2023). "The National Toy Hall of Fame started in Salem but left in 2002. Why is that?". Statesman Journal. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  3. ^ Vader, J.E. (1999-11-01). "Where the Toys Are". VIA Magazine. Archived from the original on 2007-12-30. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  4. ^ a b "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.
  5. ^ a b "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. Archived from the original on 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  6. ^ a b "Raggedy Ann Inducted in National Toy Hall of Fame". Raving Toy Maniac. 2002-03-27. Archived from the original on 2008-07-20. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Alphabet Blocks and Checkers Inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at Strong Museum in Rochester, NY" (PDF). November 14, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 4, 2003. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "GI JOE and SCRABBLE Honored with Induction into National Toy Hall of Fame". Business Wire. 2004-11-12. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  10. ^ "National Toy Hall of Fame® Final Nominees Announced by Strong Museum in Rochester, NY". 2004-12-17. Archived from the original on 2004-12-17. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  11. ^ Elliot, Debbie (2005-11-19). "An Underdog Favorite Makes Toy Hall of Fame". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. Archived from the original on 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  12. ^ "Cardboard box added to Toy Hall of Fame". USA Today. AP. 2005-11-12. Archived from the original on 2005-11-26. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  13. ^ "National Toy Hall of Fame® Final Nominees Announced by Strong Museum in Rochester, NY". 2006-05-24. Archived from the original on 2006-05-24. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Martinez, Edecio (2012-11-19). "National Toy Hall of Fame". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "Raggedy Andy Reunited with Raggedy Ann in the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York". Raggedy Land. Playthings. 2007-11-08. Archived from the original on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  19. ^ "Strong National Museum of Play". 2007-12-21. Archived from the original on 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  20. ^ "Stick, skateboard, Baby Doll enter Toy Hall of Fame". CNN.com. Archived from the original on 2008-11-08. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  21. ^ "2008 National Toy Hall of Fame Final Nominees" (PDF). The Strong National Museum of Play. September 22, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2010. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "2009 National Toy Hall of Fame Final Nominees" (PDF). The Strong National Museum of Play. September 30, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2010. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  24. ^ "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 5, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  25. ^ "National Toy Hall of Fame 2010 Nominees | The Strong". 2010-10-08. Archived from the original on 2010-10-08. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  26. ^ "Three toys inducted into Hall of Fame". Rochester Business Journal. Rochester, New York. November 10, 2011. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  27. ^ "National Toy Hall of Fame 12 Toy Finalists Announced | The Strong". 2012-05-08. Archived from the original on 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  28. ^ "Toy Hall of Fame avoids the Dark Side, inducts 'Star Wars' action figures". MercuryNews.com. November 15, 2011. Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  29. ^ "National Toy Hall Announces 2012 Toy Finalists | The Strong". 2012-11-07. Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  30. ^ "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.
  31. ^ "National Toy Hall of Fame 2013 Toy Finalists | The Strong". 2013-11-23. Archived from the original on 2013-11-23. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  32. ^ "2014 National Toy Hall of Fame Inductees Announced". 5 November 2014. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  33. ^ "Meet the 2014 National Toy Hall of Fame Finalists | The Strong". 2015-09-06. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  34. ^ "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.
  35. ^ "National Toy Hall of Fame Reveals 12 Toy Finalists for 2015 | The Strong". 2015-10-01. Archived from the original on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  36. ^ Waxman, Olivia B. "These Toys Were Just Inducted Into the National Toy Hall of Fame". Time. Archived from the original on 2017-03-29. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  37. ^ "Meet the 2016 National Toy Hall of Fame Finalists | The Strong". 2017-01-03. Archived from the original on 2017-01-03. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  38. ^ "Clue, Wiffle Ball, Paper Airplane Enter Toy Hall of Fame".
  39. ^ "Meet the 2017 National Toy Hall of Fame Finalists | The Strong". 2017-11-15. Archived from the original on 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  40. ^ "Magic 8 Ball, Uno, pinball inducted into Toy Hall of Fame". Associated Press. 8 November 2018. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  41. ^ "Meet the 2018 National Toy Hall of Fame Finalists | The Strong". 2019-03-03. Archived from the original on 2019-03-03. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  42. ^ Williams, David (8 November 2019). "Matchbox Cars, coloring books and Magic: The Gathering just made it into the National Toy Hall of Fame". CNN. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  43. ^ "Care Bears, Matchbox cars, Nerf blasters and smart phones among 2019 finalists for National Toy Hall of Fame - CNN". CNN. 2019-10-02. Archived from the original on 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  44. ^ "Pioneering Black doll Baby Nancy enters Toy Hall of Fame". Associated Press. November 5, 2020. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  45. ^ "National Toy Hall of Fame Reveals 2020 Toy Finalists - The Strong Museum of Play". 2021-10-24. Archived from the original on 2021-10-24. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  46. ^ "Inducted Toys". Archived from the original on 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  47. ^ "Meet the 2021 National Toy Hall of Fame Finalists | The Strong". 2021-09-20. Archived from the original on 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  48. ^ "Top, Lite-Brite, Masters of the Universe in toy hall of fame". Associated Press News. 10 November 2022. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  49. ^ "Meet the 2022 National Toy Hall of Fame Finalists - The Strong National Museum of Play". 2022-10-01. Archived from the original on 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  50. ^ "Fans push Fisher-Price Corn Popper into toy HOF, with NERF, Cabbage Patch Kids, baseball cards". Associated Press News. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  51. ^ "Meet the 2023 Finalists for the National Toy Hall of Fame - The Strong National Museum of Play". 2024-01-27. Archived from the original on 2024-01-27. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  52. ^ "National Toy Hall of Fame to Induct Fourth Inductee - The Strong National Museum of Play". 2023-12-20. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  53. ^ Thompson, Carolyn (November 12, 2024). "My Little Pony finally hits the Toy Hall of Fame, alongside Phase 10 and Transformers". Associated Press News. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  54. ^ "Balloons, trampoline and Apples to Apples are finalists for the Toy Hall of Fame". AP News. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
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