The Strong Announces 12 Toy Finalists for National Toy Hall of Fame

September 13, 2011 | The final nominees selected for potential induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame were announced by The Strong in Rochester, NY today. The final 2011 toy inductees, determined by a national committee, will be announced on November 10, 2011.

Selected from a pool of thousands of submissions, just two of the following 12 nominees will make it into the prestigious Hall of Fame: Dollhouse, Dungeons & Dragons, Hot Wheels, Jenga, Pogo Stick, Puppet, R/C Vehicles, Rubik’s Cube, Simon, Star Wars Action Figures, Transformers and Twister. The winners will join 46 toy luminaries such as Barbie, Mr. Potato Head and last year’s inductees – The Game of Life and Playing Cards.

According to a press release issued on September 13 by The Strong: “The National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong recognizes toys that have engaged and delighted multiple generations, inspiring them to learn, create, and discover through play. Criteria for induction include: Icon-status (the toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered); Longevity (the toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations); Discovery (the toy fosters learning, creativity, or discovery through play); and Innovation (the toy profoundly changed play or toy design).

Anyone can nominate a toy for induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame. An internal museum advisory committee comprised of curators, educators, and historians reviews the submitted nominations and determines which toys meet the criteria for selection. A national selection committee then reviews the list of toy finalists. Each national selection committee member votes for his or her top toy picks for induction. The votes are then tallied, with the toys receiving the most votes making the cut for induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame.

A weekend-long public celebration of the winners will follow the November 10 induction ceremony at The Strong’s National Museum of Play on Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, November 13.