The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame Reveals 2019 Finalists

The following article contains excerpts from a press release issued on September 11, 2019 by The Strong National Museum of Play.

September 12, 2019 | The Strong National Museum of Play unveiled the 12 finalists for induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame for 2019. This year's list reflects many toys that are still enjoyed by today’s parents and kids, including the smartphone.

Narrowed down from the thousands of nominations The National Toy Hall of Fame receives annually, this year's list includes: Care Bears, the coloring book, the Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Jenga, Magic: The Gathering, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox cars, My Little Pony, the Nerf blaster, Risk, the smartphone, and top.

"These 12 toys represent the wide scope of play—from the simple, traditional spinning top that has been played with since pre-history to the ultra-modern smartphone which has dramatically changed how people of all ages play and connect," says Christopher Bensch, vice president for collections at The Strong. "Whether old or new, or imaginative or physical, all 12 of these toy finalists share an undeniable ability to inspire people to learn, create, and discover through play." 

The Strong also brings back its "Player’s Choice" ballot, which lets the public vote for their favorite finalists now through September 18. The three toys that receive the most public votes will be submitted on one ballot, joining the other top-three submissions by members of the National Selection Advisory Committee. The public will collectively act as one member of the 23-member committee.

The final 2019 toy inductees, based on ballot votes, will be announced at The Strong Museum on Thursday, November 7 at 10:30 a.m. A weekend celebration will follow on Saturday, November 9 and Sunday, November 10. View the full list of past inductees and learn more about the criteria for induction at toyhalloffame.org .

The Strong's National Toy Hall of Fame, established in 1998, recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and enjoyed popularity over a sustained period. Each year, the prestigious hall inducts new honorees and showcases both new and historic versions of classic toys beloved by generations.

The Toy Association proudly exhibits its Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductees alongside the National Toy Hall of Fame in a state-of-the-art exhibit at The Strong. The installation showcases the toys beloved by generations – and the toy industry trailblazers who helped bring those toys to life.