ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Barbie’s sitting pretty in The National Toy Hall of Fame at Strong Museum. Will her favorite accessory – Ken – join her soon?
Or, will the Easy-Bake Oven be among this year’s hottest contenders? Not even the Magic Eight Ball knows for sure.
There’s still time to nominate your favorite classic toy for admission into The National Toy Hall of Fame at Strong Museum in Rochester, N.Y.
Submissions for nominations must be postmarked or received by the museum by Sept. 8.
Strong Museum will reveal the identity of the newest toys to be inducted into The National Toy Hall of Fame Nov. 14.
nspirational.I The National Toy Hall of Fame recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and enjoyed popularity over a sustained period.
An honored item must be a specific toy or game, such as “Barbie” or “teddy bear,” rather than a generic type, such as “doll” or “stuffed animal.”
It must also have been made in significant number and engaged multiple generations.
The toy must have educational value and it must have been safe for its intended users.
Already there. To date, 26 toys have made it into The National Toy Hall of Fame: Legos, the teddy bear, marbles, Play-Doh, Monopoly, Frisbee, Etch A Sketch,
Erector Set, Crayola Crayons, Tinker Toys, Barbie, roller skates, Lincoln Logs, Hula Hoop,
Radio Flyer Wagon, Duncan Yo-Yo, View-Master, Mr. Potato Head, the jump rope, jacks, the bicycle,
Slinky, Tonka Trucks, Silly Putty, Raggedy Ann and the jigsaw puzzle.
Nominate. To nominate a toy, visit www.strongmuseum.org or mail your selection to: The National Toy Hall of Fame, at Strong Museum, One Manhattan Square, Rochester, New York 14607.
An internal museum advisory committee comprised of curators, educators, and historians will review the submitted nominations and determine which toys meet the criteria for selection.
A national selection committee then reviews the list of toys that meet the criteria. Each Committee member votes for his or her top toy picks for induction.
The votes are then tallied, with the toys receiving the most votes making the cut for induction into The National Toy Hall of Fame.
Celebration. This year’s toy induction will be followed by Adventures in Toyland, a weekend celebration Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 1, from noon to 5 p.m.
Visitors can see a Lego artist at work, enjoy a display of this year’s toy inductees, meet and greet life-size strolling toys, and enjoy activities and entertainment for the whole family.
Visit Strong Museum’s Web site at www.strongmuseum.org for more details about the hall of fame.
