Rochester’s Strong Museum names 12 Toy Hall of Fame finalists
The Strong Museum in Rochester announced 12 finalists Wednesday for induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Only three toys will be inducted this year, with winners decided by a mix of public vote and a selection committee.
The finalists are Bingo, Bop It!, Care Bears, Mahjong, Monster High dolls, Mouse Trap, Pokemon Trading Card Game, Polly Pocket, Slide, Sorry!, Tickle Me Elmo and Yahtzee.
Voting is open to the public. The winners will be announced in November.
The museum’s criteria for induction include how iconic the toy is, whether it has been enjoyed over multiple generations, whether it fosters learning, creativity or discovery, and how innovative the toy is.
Last year’s inductees were slime, Trivial Pursuit and Battleship. Tickle Me Elmo was among the finalists last year but did not make it in, along with Catan, Connect Four, Cornhole, Furby, Scooter, Snow, Spirograph and a Star Wars Lightsaber.
The first toys were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. The inaugural class included Crayola crayons, the teddy bear, Barbie, the frisbee, Monopoly, Etch A Sketch, Lego and marbles. To date, 90 toys have been inducted.
