Tour of Toys over Time

Everyone has played with toys over the years.  Many remember their childhood toys with nostalgia and may think that today’s toys are dramatically different.  However, despite changing in some ways, many toys remain essentially the same at the core.  We’re here to explore the different ways toys have evolved over time, and highlight the ways in which they have stayed the same.

The topic for our collection focuses on toys that involve dramatic or constructive play (building, imagining, acting), and how these toys have evolved or stayed the same throughout the years.  For example, looking at Barbies, the dolls are now more inclusive regarding their looks (size, race, hair, etc.) and can come with wheelchairs and other items that children in real life use every day; however, even though Barbie has evolved over the years, the core use is still the same.

This online exhibition is ran by Jodi H., Rachel B., and Andrew G. of the Nostalgia City Library.

Tour of Toys Day 10 of 10! 

The original Storm action figure features “Power Glow” (1991) and a later Water Wars series (1999) rendition of her includes interactive elements as well as poseable arms and legs; the former has a light-up chest and the latter a base and pump that sprays water. As with the comic book character herself, Storm has many different styles and iterations, though she is most known for her white outfit from the X-Men animated series. 

This 2022 edition includes interchangeable hands with lightning effects and cel-shading in homage to her 90s animated series style. As it includes more points of articulation than its predecessors and is more expensive (and exclusive!), it suggests an increasing popularity in collectability and style than playability. 

Tour of Toys Day 9 of 10!

LEGO minifigures as we know them were introduced in 1976 with the advent of the LEGO Space theme and its astronaut character. They featured a single, yellow smiley face that remained the standard until 1989 with the new LEGO Pirates themed series; these themed sets included new molded pieces such as peg-legs, hook hands, and accessories such as firearms. More themes were generated and in 1999 LEGO began licensing official Star Wars characters into their Star Wars themed sets with their quintessential yellow faces.

 In 2004, with the addition of more themes, LEGO developed their first non-yellow minifigures for its NBA and Harry Potter themed sets to better replicate people and characters. The trend has continued to movie, television, and video game series, and other themes to boast over 8,000 unique characters, faces, and expressions, allowing play and collectability to influence their design.

Tour of Toys Day 8 of 10!

LEGO bricks were first created by Godtfred Kirk Christiansen and patented in 1958 with his “studs and tubes” design. Six of the quintessential 2 x 4 studded bricks can be combined in an impressive 915,103,765 different ways! Themed sets began with the first system product or “LEGO System in Play” with Town Plan in 1955 intending to reflect Danish urban design; this first system saw many iterations and evolved into the current LEGO City theme.

 This first theme also helped to continue the development of minifigures and role playing into what the company called “the system within the system”. Beyond role play, popular Architecture themes and LEGO Creations and LEGO Creations Expert have created sets for adults and collectors alike to build grand, detailed and interactive sets. In the Ninjago City set, an ATM machine dispenses money with the press of a button; and designated pieces on the set’s baseplate allow it to connect with other Ninjago City pieces, creating a large, modular play area with multiple combinations, encouraging another way to build. 

Tour of Toys Day 7 of 10!

Baby dolls- These childhood favorites date back all the way to ancient civilizations, and while the looks and materials have changed over the years, the core function is still very much the same today as it was in Ancient Rome, a toy that allows children to dress it up, care for it, and play with it.  Baby dolls today now come in a large array of skin tones and hair types, as well as small (but extremely important) details such as hearing aids, prosthetic limbs, and wheelchairs, so that children can now always see themselves reflected in a doll.

Tour of Toys Day 6 of 10!

Lincoln Logs- First invented in 1916 by John Lloyd Wright, these logs were used to stack and build, similar to building blocks, but with a unique style and design (redwood logs with notches like real log cabin logs) that allowed children to build with right-angles. While you can still purchase Lincoln Logs, they are no longer made by the same company and have pretty much disappeared from box store toy shelves, replaced by classic blocks and variations of Legos. Lincoln Logs are credited with being the first toy marketed to both boys and girls so while the toy itself has taken a step back, it paved the way for toys to be enjoyed regardless of gender.  

Tour of Toys Day 5 of 10!

Electronic pets- As technology and the Internet boomed, electronic pets took center stage.  The late 90s saw an explosion of electronic pets, from Furby, Poo-Chi, and Tamagotchi, children could care for and raise a digital pet.  With technology constantly evolving, these forms of electronic pets fell to the wayside and were replaced by significantly more detailed and interactive versions.  Little Friends video games allows kids to care for, train, and raise a variety of pets with beautiful, lifelike graphics compared to Tamagotchis; Squeakee has replaced Poo-Chi and Furby, and not only has more sounds and actions that its predecessors, but also can be trained to learn new tricks. While the basic, core goal of an electronic pet has stayed the same (allowing children to have a pet without an actual living animal), current versions have expanded the ways that children can interact and care for these pets.

Tour of Toys Day 4 of 10!

A Magic Screen ~ The Etch-A-Sketch is a drawing toy that debuted in 1960.  One knob controls vertical drawing, with the other controlling horizontal.  Unlike many other toys, the Etch-A-Sketch has not changed over the years.  However, the marketing has certainly changed noting the presence of WI-FI in today’s world and how it is not needed for this toy, despite involving a screen!

Tour of Toys Day 3 of 10!

Nintendo Gaming System ~ Video Game Console.  The first Nintendo console debuted in the United States in 1985.  Numerous console and handheld games were developed by Nintendo in subsequent years, most recently the Switch which allows users to use the game in either console or handheld mode.  Regardless, the premise is the same–a video game entertainment system.

Tour of Toys Day 2 of 10!

An Iconic Doll.  Barbie debuted in 1959, starting as a single 11 inch plastic doll.  In a few short years, boyfriend Ken entered the picture.  Later, friends Midge and Alan came on the scene.  Since then, there have been hundreds of additions to the Barbie universe, including dolls in wheelchairs, siblings to Barbie, those with different figures, as well as commemorative dolls.  While the shape of the dolls, their articulation, hairstyles, and image have changed over the years, the basic premise is the same–a doll who can do anything, unrestricted by gender norms.

Tour of Toys Day 1 of 10!

Candy Land ~ A Child’s First Game.  Requiring no reading skills, this game is a great game for preschoolers, teaching colors, counting, and turn-taking.  First developed by a teacher hospitalized with polio in the 1940s, this game has progressed over the years with updated images and enhanced coloring along with a few minor rule changes.  However, the basic premise is the same–be the first to get to the King Kandy’s Castle.