National Toy Hall of Fame

The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and enjoyed popularity over a sustained period. Each year, the hall inducts new honorees and showcases both new and historic versions of classic toys beloved by generations.

Inducted Toys

To date, 74 toys have been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.

National Toy Hall of Fame Selection Criteria

  • Icon-status: The toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered.
  • Longevity: The toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations.
  • Discovery: The toy fosters learning, creativity, or discovery through play.
  • Innovation: The toy profoundly changed play or toy design. A toy may be inducted on the basis of this criterion without necessarily having met all of the first three.

National Toy Hall of Fame Selection Process

The public can nominate toys online through the National Toy Hall of Fame website, via email, or by U.S. mail. Each year, an internal museum advisory committee comprised of curators, educators, and historians reviews the submitted nominations and pre-qualifies the 12 toys that best meet the criteria for selection. Final selections are made on the advice of a national selection advisory committee comprised of historians, educators, and other individuals who exemplify learning, creativity, and discovery through their lives and careers.