With 2020 finally drawing to a close it is time for The Strong National Museum of Play to induct some new toys into the National Toy Hall of Fame.

The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York is home to the National Toy Hall of Fame and every year they induct some new toys into their hall of fame.  This year the museum looked at 12 nominees and narrowed them down to the 3 toys that were inducted for 2020.

National Toy Hall of Fame 2020 Nominees

  • Baby Nancy
  • Bingo
  • Breyer Horses
  • Jenga
  • Lite-Brite
  • Masters of the Universe
  • My Little Pony
  • Risk
  • Sidewalk Chalk
  • Sorry!
  • Tamagotchi
  • Yahtzee

And after much deliberation, the 3 toys that were chosen to be inducted into the hall of fame were: Baby Nancy, Jenga, and sidewalk chalk.

Baby Nancy

Courtesy of The Strong®, Rochester, New York
Courtesy of The Strong®, Rochester, New York
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Baby Nancy was one of the very first popular black dolls to be sold in the United States.  Shindana Toys made the doll in 1968 and it quickly became a huge hit.  The company eventually went out of business in the 1983 but it paved the way for more multicultural dolls.


Jenga

Courtesy of The Strong®, Rochester, New York
Courtesy of The Strong®, Rochester, New York
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Jenga was originally released in 1983 at the London Toy Fair and has been a staple in game collections all around the world ever since.  Leslie Scott created the game and according to wikipedia, 'the name jenga is derived from kujenga, a Swahili word which means "to build".'  Jenga is one of those rare games that pretty much anyone can play and enjoy.


Sidewalk Chalk

Courtesy of The Strong®, Rochester, New York
Courtesy of The Strong®, Rochester, New York
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Sidewalk chalk is one of those universal toys that isn't from any particular manufacturer but is a staple in almost any kids childhood.  Heck, this toy even transcends age and entire festivals are dedicated to the art created by sidewalk chalk.  This toy is definitely deservent of being inducted into the hall of fame.

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