Since 1998 we’ve been celebrating the toys of our childhood. Barbie, Frisbee, Play-Doh and Etch-A-Sketch were among the first eleven toys to be inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Six toys were inducted in 1999; five in 2000 and then the suits at The Strong Museum of Play would decide that only two to three would receive the ultimate honor each year going forward.
Not just ANY toy would be recognized, but some years, The Strong might have stretched it a little bit. In 2008, the STICK was inducted and in 2011, the blanket.
In September, twelve finalists for 2018 were announced. American Girl dolls, the Magic 8-Ball, chalk, Chutes and Ladders, He-Man action figures, pinball, the sled, tic-tac-toe, Uno, Tickle Me Elmo, Electric Football and the Fisher-Price corn popper.
The long wait is over, because the hall of fame winners are in! Congratulations to these three new inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame:
UNO
Don’t skip past this winner! The first inductee to this year’s National Toy Hall of Fame is @realUNOgame! #toyhall2018 pic.twitter.com/56cjCAYbpB
— The Strong Museum (@museumofplay) November 8, 2018
PINBALL
The second inductee to the 2018 National Toy Hall of Fame is… pinball! #toyhall2018 pic.twitter.com/pvTPmvzi5V
— The Strong Museum (@museumofplay) November 8, 2018
MAGIC 8-BALL
Signs point to yes! The final inductee to #toyhall2018 is @Magic8Ball. pic.twitter.com/2srGND29fQ
— The Strong Museum (@museumofplay) November 8, 2018
The whole ceremony was streaming live on The Strong Museums YouTube channel.
