ROCHESTER, N.Y. — When the curators of the National Toy Hall of Fame discovered last fall that the Fisher-Price Corn Popper was selected for the class of 2023, they realized their work was just beginning.
With the induction ceremony on the horizon, they needed to create an engaging exhibit to highlight this cherished toddler push toy featuring brightly colored balls that dance inside a transparent dome.
This task is not straightforward; rather, it involves a deep dive into the evolution of toys. The hall, located within The Strong National Museum of Play in upstate New York, aims to illustrate both the longevity and transformation of its exhibits, showcasing how materials and designs have changed over time, from wood to plastic and the incorporation of electronics.

Curators often scour archives, attend auctions, and explore garage sales, as they search for versions of toys that resonate with nostalgia — a process that accompanies each new inductee.
“We want items that are familiar to people today, but we also want visitors to reminisce with memories like, ‘Oh, I had one of those!’” said Christopher Bensch, the chief curator. The Strong museum acts as an expansive interactive playground for both children and adults.
For instance, when the jigsaw puzzle was recognized in 2002, the team displayed one of the earliest versions—a 1766 map of Europe adhered to a thin mahogany board—alongside a more modern Donald Duck board puzzle from 1990. Some inductees, such as the 2021 entry of “sand,” are not a specific product but still significant in context.

With the Corn Popper being a toy that has delighted children since 1957, curators sought a version that would evoke recognition across generations, with sales totaling over 36 million units.
It is expected that nearly 650,000 visitors will come to see it and other honored toys at the hall over the coming year, eager to engage with these iconic pieces.

Once selected by experts and toy enthusiasts, many inductees are transitioned from the museum’s extensive archives to permanent display.
These celebrated toys, like the Barbie doll and the teddy bear, often exist in multiple forms within the growing collection of over half a million items.
Staff members consistently seek out toys worthy of preservation at various sales venues, including eBay and local estate sales, particularly for items gaining traction for potential induction into the hall of fame.

Given the constant emergence of new toys, curators speculate which will become classics—akin to the Etch A Sketch, a mechanical drawing tool that remains popular and mostly unchanged after a century, as opposed to toys that may quickly lose their appeal.
“Our goal is to be a repository for these beloved objects, whether they are from the country or the world,” Bensch explained, citing their extensive collection of 1,500 yo-yos and 8,000 jigsaw puzzles as examples.

Items in the collection may be donated by manufacturers or private individuals, often following significant life changes such as death, divorce, or relocation. Recently, a parent donated a remarkable collection of 1,600 American Girl dolls and accessories when their child no longer played with them.
Some acquisitions involve auctions, similar to how art museums obtain masterpieces. A prime example is their prized possession—an original Monopoly set, hand-painted on oil cloth in 1933 by inventor Charles Darrow, which fetched a staggering $146,500 at Sotheby’s in 2010.
“We are the National Museum of Play. If we didn’t have the first Model T, it would be a constant regret,” Bensch stated.

Despite the Fisher-Price Corn Popper being a staple for over 60 years, finding a historic version suitable for display presented challenges.
“These toys were heavily utilized,” Bensch noted, especially older models with plastic domes and wooden balls, which have not fared well over time.
The two versions selected for the exhibit include a well-worn 1980 model sourced from Canada via eBay and a shiny newer model still available for retail purchase.
“Locating a photograph-worthy display that dates back several decades was a struggle,” Bensch reflected. “We weren’t able to find exactly what we hoped, due to the love these toys received.”

Every year, a fresh crop of toys is inducted into the hall of fame through a structured nomination process that invites the public to nominate their favorites online.
Museum staff reviews nominations to develop a shortlist of 12 finalists, which are then voted on by a panel of experts. Since the hall’s inception in 1998, a total of 84 toys have achieved this honor.

Nominations can range from timeless favorites like the steel erector set, introduced in 1998, to the more ephemeral joy of blowing bubbles through a plastic wand, which was honored in 2014. Many inductees emphasize that the true worth of a toy lies not in its monetary value, but in the joy it brings during playtime.
In 2008, even a simple stick—often transformed by a child’s imagination into a sword or magic wand—was acknowledged, while items like the Flexible Flyer sled and the Rubik’s Cube were overlooked that year.

For the class of 2024, the museum has received a total of 2,400 nominations representing 382 unique toys.
This year’s 12 finalists include beloved favorites like Apples to Apples, balloons, and trampolines. Notable mentions also include Hess Toy Trucks, remote-controlled vehicles, stick horses, Phase 10, Sequence, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Meanwhile, My Little Pony figures and Transformers action figures continue to be recurring nominees.
A select few will be revealed and honored in November, after which the curators will embark on their search for the next group of iconic toys once again.