Open 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.–8 p.m.National Toy Hall of Fame
Explore some of the best and most important toys of all time!
About
The National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong, established in 1998, recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and enjoyed popularity over a sustained period. Each year, the prestigious hall inducts new honorees and showcases both new and historic versions of classic toys beloved by generations.
The National Toy Hall of Fame is housed at The Strong museum in Rochester, NY.
Bingo
American bingo is descended from a lottery game first played in Italy around 1530. The game came to be known as lotto and was played in France and in Germany as a teaching […]
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Breyer Horses
In 1951, The Breyer Molding Company introduced Breyer Horses, which realistically captured the spirt and magic of the living creatures. Hand-designed by artists, the unique horses seized the imaginations of children, drew interest […]
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Catan
The Settlers of Catan, now called “Catan,” was first published by Kosmos in Germany in 1995. It’s one of the first German-style board games to find widespread popularity outside of Europe. It is […]
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Lite-Brite
Created in 1966, Lite-Brite uses backlit plastic pegs on a black background for children to create glowing images, either following manufactured designs or creating their own picture. Through the years, Lite-Brite has gradually […]
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Alphabet Blocks
Inducted Year: 2003 For centuries, parents understanding the connection between play and development have made alphabet blocks standard equipment of the well-stocked toy box. Alphabet blocks appeared as early as 1693, when philosopher John […]
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American Girl Dolls
Inducted Year: 2021 Following a visit to historic Williamsburg, Virginia, and a Christmas shopping trip for her nieces, educator and newscaster Pleasant Rowland developed and launched a line of 18-inch dolls representing an era […]
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Atari 2600 Game System
Inducted Year: 2007 When people play today, chances are very good they’re playing a video game. No company did more to make that true than Atari. Atari did not make the first home video game […]
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Baby Doll
Inducted Year: 2008 Crying, cooing, sleeping, eating, drinking, and wetting. What aspiring mom (or dad) doesn’t want a lifelike baby doll with all those features? But before the first baby doll appeared in the […]
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Nominate Your Favorite Toy
Is your favorite toy or game missing from the National Toy Hall of Fame? Nominate it now!
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Visit a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of play.
