100 classic toys

G.I. Joe

G.I. Joe, the original action figure, was introduced by Hasbro in 1964. This moveable fighting man was made in 1966.

Transformers: Optimus Prime

Hasbro introduced Transformers in 1984. These “robots in disguise” are still popular today. Optimus Prime featured here was made in the 1980s.

LEGO Building Set

First invented in Denmark in 1949 and introduced in the United States in 1961, LEGO bricks and building systems are one of the most widely distributed toys ever created.

Barbie

Ever since Barbie arrived on the fashion doll scene in 1959, she has been one of the world’s best-selling toys. This Barbie was made in 1962.

View-Master

Although introduced in the 1930s, it wasn’t until the 1950s that the View-Master really became a hit with kids. That was when they started using popular characters like Mickey Mouse in their reels.

Schwinn Black Phantom bicycle

Learning to ride a bicycle is a childhood milestone. This bike is called the "Black Phantom," and it was made by Schwinn in the 1950s.

Cabbage Patch Kids

Cabbage Patch Kids were one of the biggest toy crazes in history. So many kids wanted one for Christmas in 1983, there were even fights in stores as parents competed to get one for their child.

Crayola crayons

While there are other brands available today, crayons as we know them were developed by Binney & Smith in 1903. Their brand name Crayola was created by combining two French words and basically means "oily chalk."

Play-Doh

Billions of cans of Play-Doh have been sold since 1955. Not bad for something that was originally developed as a wallpaper cleaner.

Monopoly

Parker Brothers first released Monopoly in 1935. It's the best-selling game in the world.

Hot Wheels

Hot Wheels has meant fast cars with attitude ever since Mattel sold the first one in 1968. This model, known as the "Hot Bird," was made in 1976.

Raggedy Ann

Johnny Gruelle's rag doll with a heart has been endearing herself to children since 1918. This doll was made in the 1960s.

Etch A Sketch

Originally called "Magic Screen" by the man who sold the idea to Ohio Art, the Etch A Sketch hasn't changed much since it was first sold in 1960. This Etch A Sketch was made in the early 1960s.

Spirograph

The beauty of Spirograph is that it seems complicated but isn't, making it easy and fun to create intricate graphic designs. This Spirograph was made in 1967.

Little Golden Books

Since Little Golden Books first came out in 1942, well over 2 billion books have been sold to children all over the world.

Lincoln Logs

Invented by the son of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright and named after President Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Logs hit the market in 1916.

Candy Land

Because it is easy to understand and requires no reading, Candy Land is the first board game many children play. First sold in 1949, this version was made in the 1960s.

Clamp-on Roller Skates

Roller skates were invented in the 1700s, but they didn’t really become popular until the 20th century. Skates like these fit on over your shoes and were adjustable.

Silly Putty

Discovered when looking for a rubber substitute during WWII, Silly Putty was first sold in 1950 and soon became a kid favorite.

Mr. Potato Head

When Mr. Potato Head was introduced in 1952, you had to supply your own potato. It wasn't until 1964 that a plastic potato was sold with the accessories.

Slinky

"What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs, and makes a slinkity sound?" First sold in 1945 and popular ever since, everyone knows the answer is Slinky!

Big Wheel

One of the most iconic toys of the 1970s, the Big Wheel was introduced by Marx Toys in 1969.

Tinkertoy One of the most popular building toys of all time, Tinkertoy sets were first sold in 1914. This set was made around 1970.

Tiny Tears

While baby dolls are one of the most familiar playthings of the last 100 years, before the 20th century, dolls usually didn’t look like actual babies. This doll, named Tiny Tears, was a popular baby doll of the 1950s.

Easy-Bake Oven

When it was introduced in 1963, the Easy-Bake Oven meant that kids could create their very own baked treats. Because it used the heat from light bulbs, parents felt that it was safe enough for kids to use. This oven was made in the 1970s.

My Little Pony

Hasbro introduced My Little Pony in 1983, and the brightly colored ponies quickly became popular. This pony named Ivy was a Happy Meal toy in 1997.

Carmen Miranda paper dolls

Paper dolls were sold as early as 1810, and paper dolls based on celebrities were soon a common theme. These paper dolls are from a set featuring Carmen Miranda made in 1952.

"The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss books made learning to read fun. "The Cat in the Hat" was first published in 1957.

Care Bears

Care Bears first appeared as greeting card characters. Very popular in the 1980s, each bear is a different color and has a different symbol on its belly.

Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling

Americans first met Harry Potter in 1998 when "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was published in the U.S. Seven books and eight movies later, Harry Potter is a household name.

Toy Soldiers

Toy or miniature soldiers have been popular for hundreds of years. Inexpensive plastic versions like these green army men were often sold by the bag. Featured here is part of the U.S. Soldiers 30 piece set.

Fry Girl

In 1979, McDonald's came out with Happy Meals, meals just for kids. Over the years, different toys have been available almost every week. This Fry Girl toy was made in 1989.

Play Family Farm

This popular farm set from Fisher-Price is one of the best known farm toys of the 20th century.

Clue

Clue was invented in England and sold there as "Cluedo" before coming to America in 1949. In 1985 Clue became the first board game to inspire a motion picture. This version is from the 1950s.

UNO

UNO, America's number one selling card game, was invented in 1971. There are now many versions of the game, even one you can play on your phone.

Super Mario Bros. 3

When video games were invented, a whole new world of entertainment opened up. This popular game came out in 1990.

The Farmer Says See 'N Say

The design may have changed over the years, but See 'n Say talking toys have been delighting kids since it Fisher-Price first came out with it in 1965.

Hy-Speed Wagon

Although toy wagons had been popular with children for many years, it was in the 1930's that the little steel wagon painted red became popular. This wagon was made by Hy-Speed.

Rainbow Latch Hook Rug

Based on traditional rug making methods, latch-hooking was invented in the 20th century and was trendy in the 1970's and 1980's.

Chatter Telephone

One of the best-known toy telephones is this one that's also a pull toy. The Chatter Telephone was first sold in 1962.

Magic 8 Ball

This popular fortune-telling toy was first sold in 1950 and has been popular for decades.

Strawberry Shortcake dolls - Orange Blossom

Strawberry Shortcake started out as a greeting card character in 1977. She and her friends were each scented to match their names. This Orange Blossom doll was made in 1981.

Dollhouse

Dollhouses have delighted both children and adults for hundreds of years. This dollhouse by Keystone is called "The Birches" and was made around 1947.

Lightsaber

Ever since the first movie came out in 1977, Star Wars toys of all kinds have been flying off the shelves. This Lightsaber was made around 1983 when "Return of the Jedi" came out.

Jump Rope

Jumping rope has been popular for hundreds of years and became popular in the U.S. in the 1940's. It's fun to do by yourself or with friends.

"Little Archie" Comic Books

While many comic books feature superheroes, some are about characters like Archie, who was introduced in 1941. This "Little Archie" comic is from 1974.

Play Kitchen

Kids have long enjoyed playing house and play kitchens like this one made kids feel like they could cook just like Mom and Dad. This Rite-Hite kitchen set is from the 1950's.

Toy Trains

The toy train is one of the classic toys of the 20th century. The Lionel O gauge passenger set was made in the 1930's.

Jacks

Based on the ancient game of knucklebones, Jacks is a game of skill. How many can you pick up?

Rubik's Cube

When the Rubik's Cube was introduced in the U.S. in 1980, it quickly became the fastest selling and most popular puzzle in history.

Baseball Cards

Baseball players have been featured on cards since the 19th century, and people have been collecting them ever since. This rookie card for Juan Marichal was made by Topps in 1961.

Flexible Flyer Sled

Going sledding is one of the highlights of a snowy winter. The most recognized brand of sled is the Flexible Flyer. This one was made in 1936.

Bouncy Ball

You can roll it, catch it, throw it or bounce it, and for many children, a ball is one of their first toys.

Teddy Bears

Named after President Theodore Roosevelt, the Teddy Bear has been popular ever since it first appeared in 1903. This Bialosky Bear was made in 1987.

Paint By Number Kits

Extremely popular in the 1950s, paint by numbers kits meant that even people who didn’t think they were artistic could feel that they had made a real work of art. This kit was released by Craft Master in 1960.

Blocks

Block sets like this one encouraged kids to use their imagination as they built things. This set came with a wagon and was made by Holgate in the 1960's.

Twister

"The game that ties you up in knots" first came out in 1966. In this game, players don't have game pieces -- they are the game pieces!

Roy Rogers Cap Pistol and Holster

Gun and holster sets like this one were the prized possessions of many would-be cowboys and cowgirls. This set features Roy Rogers, the "King of the Cowboys."

Checkers

King me! Still one of the world's most popular games, people have been playing checkers for hundreds of years.

Mouse Trap

Inspired by the drawings of Rube Goldberg, Mouse Trap was created in 1963, but has changed some over the years. Now sold as "a game of zany action on a crazy contraption" this version is from 1970.

"The Little Engine That Could"

One of the most popular children's books of all time, "The Little Engine That Could" was first published in 1930, and introduced the phrase, "I think I can, I think I can" to generations of kids.

Yo-Yo

The yo-yo may be one of the oldest toys in the world, but it was one of the first toys in space. Millions of Duncan yo-yos have been sold since the 1930s, when the toy company trademarked the name.

Little Play Nurse Set

This Little Play Nurse set was made in 1945. It came with everything an aspiring nurse needed to feel like she was the real thing.

Beanie Babies

These floppy stuffed toys with cute names became one of the hottest trends of the 1990s. Early the Robin and Smoochy the Frog were released in 1997.

Frisbee

When Wham-O first sold their flying discs in the 1950s, they called them Pluto Platters, but they soon changed the name to the one everyone knows -- Frisbee.

Wood Puzzles

Learning to solve puzzles is a fun and important part of childhood. This puzzle for small children was made in 1963.

Marbles

Marbles and marble games have been around for thousands of years. Marbles can be made of many different materials, and people often collect specific kinds.

Toy Tea Set

Child-size tea sets have been around for hundreds of years. This plastic set from Ideal was made around 1946.

Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots

It's the toy where two players can fight it out in the boxing ring as either the Blue Bomber or the Red Rocker. This version of Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots was made in the 1960s by Marx.

American Girl Dolls - Addy Walker

The first American Girl dolls were sold in 1986. Girls were drawn to the historically based stories and accessories for each doll. This doll, named Addy Walker, was first sold in 1993.

Wonder Woman Underoos

Underoos, the "underwear that's fun to wear," first appeared in 1978. Many sets, like this one, featured superheroes.

Super Heroes lunch box

Character lunch boxes really became popular starting in the 1950s when Aladdin made a Hopalong Cassidy version. This one featuring Marvel Comics super heroes came out in 1976.

Evel Knievel Chopper

An action figure can be made to do cool poses or incredible feats. This Evel Knievel action figure and chopper motor cycle was made in 1976.

Curious George

The first Curious George book was published in 1941. One of the most recognizable children's book characters, Curious George is almost everyone's favorite monkey.

No. 7 1/2 Engineer's Erector Set

Once called "The World's Greatest Toy" by maker A.C. Gilbert, the Erector Set has been challenging kids to create and construct since 1914. This set was made around 1955.

Mother Goose

Books of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes have been around since the late 1700s. This version was published in the early 20th century.

Pull-A-Tune Xylophone

This xylophone was first released by Fisher Price in 1957 and is still sold today. With this toy, even very young children are able to make music of their own.

Jack in the Music Box

Pop goes the weasel! The Jack-in-the-box has been surprising children for hundreds of years. This popular version was made by Mattel in the 1970s.

Mickey Mouse Ears

First made popular in the 1950s when the Mouseketeers wore them on "The Mickey Mouse Club" show, Mickey Mouse Ears are now one of the most popular souvenirs from a visit to a Disney Park.

Hoppity Horse

The Hoppity Hop was an inflatable rubber ball that you could sit on while bouncing and was made around 1970.

Buddy L Mack dump truck

Toy trucks have been around almost as long as real ones. This dump truck by Buddy L was made around 1965.

Dinosaur toys

Some of the most classic dinosaur toys of the 20th century, these toys by Marx were made in the 1950s.

Sand toys

Sand toys such as pails, shovels and rakes have been popular with kids for generations. This set was made around 2004.

Schoenhut Piano

Kids have been playing toy pianos made by Schoenhut since 1872. This one was made around 1930.

Pink Panther costume

Whether the costume is scary or sweet, dressing up for Halloween has been a tradition for generations. This Pink Panther costume was made in 1982.

Rocking Horse

The rocking horse is a classic childhood toy. This one was made around 1980.

Superman Play Suit

Playing dress-up is one of the highlights of childhood, whether you make up your own costume or use one that is ready-made. This Superman Play Suit was made in the 1950s.

Top

There are many kinds of tops, but no matter the type, there's no denying that spinning a top is fun.

Barney

Barney was created in 1988. By the time the big purple and green T-Rex appeared on PBS in 1992, lots of kids were begging to have one of their own.

"Toy Story" toys

Buzz and Woody have been kid favorites ever since the first "Toy Story" movie came out in 1995.

Bissell Little Queen carpet sweeper

You could do more than just pretend to sweep with this Bissell Little Queen sweeper from the 1960s. It really works!

Piggy bank

Learning to save money became fun when you had a special place to keep it. This piggy bank was made by Ideal decades ago.

Fire engine

Over the years, firefighting toys have changed as the real equipment has changed. This classic red fire truck was made in the 1950s by Doepke.

Howdy Doody marionette

Puppets have been entertaining kids for centuries. This marionette is of one of the mid-20th century's best known puppets, Howdy Doody.

Sparky the Robot

Toy robots were extremely popular in the 1950s and 1960s. At the time, Sci-Fi was in its heyday and kids dreamed of what life might be like in the future or on distant planets. This robot was made in Japan in the 1960s.

Gabby Goofies

Some of the most memorable pull toys of the 20th century were made by Fisher Price. This one is called the “Gabby Goofies” and was made in the 1960s.

Play drill set

This play drill set from Kenner promised to be “just like Daddy’s but safe.” It was made in the 1950s.

Tickle Me Elmo

The popular Sesame Street character started a toy craze in 1996 when Tickle Me Elmo came out. There were mad rushes in stores as people competed to get one in time for the holidays.

Acrobatic Marvel

Wind him up and watch him go! Wind-up toys have been around for hundreds of years. This one by Marx was made in the 1930s.

Classic bath toys

Rub-a-dub-dub, three ducks in a tub. This toy by Sun Rubber features Donald Duck's nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie.