Behind the scenes at the National Toy Hall of Fame

How iconic toys are carefully curated for the National Toy Hall of Fame, preserving beloved memories of childhood for generations to come
Behind the scenes at the National Toy Hall of Fame
In Frame: The Fisher-Price Corn Popper toys on displays in the Hall of Fame at The Strong National Museum of PlayImage Credits: Associated Press
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When the National Toy Hall of Fame announced the induction of the Fisher-Price Corn Popper into its class of 2023, the curators at The Strong National Museum of Play knew they had a challenge on their hands. How do you showcase a beloved toddler toy that’s been around for more than 60 years?

The museum, located in upstate New York, isn’t just interested in putting any version of the Corn Popper on display. They aim to tell the story of how toys endure and evolve—how materials shift from wood to plastic and electronics are added over time. This means digging deep into archives, scouring auctions and even combing through garage sales to find original versions of the toys being honored.

“We want some recognisable things currently on the market, but we also want people to say, ‘Oh, I had one of those!’” says Christopher Bensch, the museum’s chief curator. When the Corn Popper was inducted, the team faced a tricky task: tracking down a version that could speak to its rich history. More than 36 million Corn Poppers have been sold since its debut in 1957, but finding an older model in good condition proved difficult. After a thorough search, they managed to acquire both a 1980 model from eBay and a shiny new version from store shelves.

Associated Press

The same process applies to every toy inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 2002, when the jigsaw puzzle was honored, the museum displayed one of the earliest examples: a 1766 mahogany board with a map of Europe. Next to it, a 1990 Donald Duck board puzzle demonstrated the toy’s evolution over centuries.

But not all Hall of Fame inductees are specific products. In 2021, “sand” was honored for its timeless appeal as a simple yet endlessly creative plaything. The curators aim to evoke nostalgia with each toy, connecting generations of visitors to their childhood memories.

The museum’s collection is vast—half a million objects, including 1,500 yo-yos and 8,000 jigsaw puzzles—and growing every year. While many toys are pulled from the archives for permanent display, the curators are always on the lookout for more. They monitor sites like eBay, attend estate sales and occasionally pursue items at auction, much like a fine art museum would. In 2010, they secured one of their most prized possessions: an original hand-painted Monopoly set, created by inventor Charles Darrow in 1933 before the game became a commercial hit. Though it cost the museum $146,500 at Sotheby’s, it was a priceless acquisition for the Hall of Fame.

New toys are constantly entering the market and predicting which will stand the test of time is part of the curators’ job. The goal is to preserve the history of these playthings for future generations. “We want to be the repository for them, for the nation or the world,” says Bensch.

Each year, anyone can nominate a toy for the Hall of Fame online. Museum staff narrow the list to 12 finalists and a panel of experts votes to select the inductees. Since its inception in 1998, 84 toys have been enshrined in the Hall, ranging from classics like the Barbie doll and teddy bear to simple objects like a stick, inducted in 2008 for its endless potential in children’s imaginations.

Christopher Bensch, chief curator at The Strong National Museum of Play, holds one of the games that is a finalist for the 2024 Toy Hall of Fame
Christopher Bensch, chief curator at The Strong National Museum of Play, holds one of the games that is a finalist for the 2024 Toy Hall of FameAssociated Press

For the class of 2024, the museum received 2,400 nominations representing 382 different toys. Among the 12 finalists are Apples to Apples, balloons and the Pokémon Trading Card Game. This year also marks the seventh nomination for My Little Pony figures and the Transformers action figures.

Once the winners are announced in November, the curators’ hunt begins again. They’ll search for toys that evoke memories of childhood, aiming to preserve a piece of our collective imagination.

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