The Strong National Museum of Play: Part II

As Rollie Adams, CEO of the Strong National Museum of Play, walked me through the museum, the archives and the library I was struck by what an incredible resource the museum was to those who want to be stimulated.

First of all, there is something about seeing all of those great, whimsical, silly and sometimes awful products from times past that builds a sense of pride, awe and respect for the industry of which we are all a part. In a world that sometimes seems to question the toy industry’s relevance or intentions, it is nice to sense the enormous impact we have had on society and culture. It is both thrilling and sobering to realize that the toys we give children both reflect the times yet anticipate the future.  They anticipate the future because they actually help to shape it.  

On a practical level, seeing all of these products from the past stimulates the creative juices so it is a must see stop for inventors and designers. And it’s not just the products that stimulate. Those of us in the business will want to take a look at the “Steve and Diane Olin Toy Catalog Collection” which contains approximately 12,000 toy company product catalogs from the 1960’s to today. There is also an extensive library of books and periodicals on play which you can visit upon request.

Bottom line: Anyone in Toy Nation who wants to know more about the history of their industry, who wants to come up with new ideas for products and who wants to expand their sense of what constitutes toys and play needs to make a pilgrimage to the museum. When you go, however, bring your children or grandchildren with you. They will have a ball while you expand your horizons.