Toys

Artist Lily Hevesh's 50-by-50-foot domino display at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

Watch 100,000 Dominoes Topple to the Ground in a Dazzling Eight-Minute Display

Artist Lily Hevesh spent ten days creating the elaborate installation at the National Building Museum

Barbies from the "Inspiring Women" collection, including dolls representing British model Adwoa Aboah and U.S. tennis player Billie Jean King

Travel Through Barbieland at London's Design Museum

A new exhibition traces the evolution of one of the world's most famous dolls over six decades

A new documentary about the creation of Black Barbie is now streaming on Netflix.

How the First Black Barbie Was Born

A new documentary tells the story of Black Barbie, and why she has meant so much to so many

“When I was making it, people laughed at me a good deal,” Charles F. Ritchel later said. “But so they did at Noah when he built the ark.”

Twenty-Five Years Before the Wright Brothers Took to the Skies, This Flying Machine Captivated America

First exhibited in 1878, Charles F. Ritchel's dirigible was about as wacky, dangerous and impractical as any airship ever launched

The rocket-firing Boba Fett action figure was supposed to be a giveaway. But executives at American toy company Kenner later realized the missile was a choking hazard.

This Boba Fett Figure Is Now the Most Valuable Vintage Toy in the World

Created in 1979, the rare missile-firing figurine has become a "mythic icon" among collectors

Lego enthusiasts can now build their own Notre-Dame Cathedral, complete with rose windows and the iconic spire.

Builders Haven't Finished Reconstructing Notre-Dame Cathedral—But Lego Fans Can

Lego is selling a 4,383-piece model of the historic structure ahead of the upcoming Paris Olympics

Venus Williams is getting her own Barbie doll for a new Mattel campaign to celebrate women in sports. 

Tennis Icon Venus Williams Scores Her Own Barbie Doll

The plastic (and fantastic) version of Williams is one of nine new Mattel dolls celebrating female athletes

This one-inch-tall gold Bionicle mask was found in a bag of jewelry at a Pennsylvania Goodwill.

Goodwill Listed This Rare Gold Lego Piece for $14.95. It Sold for $18,101

Lego created just 30 of the 14-karat gold Kanohi Hau masks for a giveaway in 2001

“There’s something about these characters,” says department store historian Michael Lisicky. “So many of [them] are so wonderfully regional, and that’s why they’re still so powerful.” Featured characters include Uncle Mistletoe, Billie the Brownie, Christopher Candycane and Mr. Bingle.

Meet a Dozen Lesser-Known Christmas Characters, From Mr. Jingeling to Uncle Mistletoe

Created as department store marketing tools, many of these seasonal figures became beloved holiday traditions

An original Michtom teddy bear once held by two of Teddy Roosevelt’s great-grandchildren, Mark and Anne.

The Teddy Bear Was Once Seen as a Dangerous Influence on Young Children

Inspired by a moment of empathy from President Theodore Roosevelt, the huggable toy had a rocky start before it became the stuff of legend

The products range from measuring games to coding activities—and even include a robot that introduces children to artificial intelligence.

Ten Engineer-Selected STEM Toys to Give as Gifts in 2023

From coding to building to circuitry, these educational activities support basic skills to serve children in science, engineering and beyond

These five creepy dolls are in the running for this year's competition.

Which of These Vintage Dolls Do You Find the Creepiest?

Now in its fifth year, an annual contest spotlights a Minnesota museum's historical doll collection

Nicks revealed the Barbie version of herself during her concert at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

Stevie Nicks Gets Her Own Barbie Doll

The new doll is inspired by the legendary performer's appearance on the cover of "Rumours"

Director Greta Gerwig at the European premiere of Barbie. The film has enjoyed worldwide success and made Gerwig the only woman with a sole directing credit on a billion-dollar movie.

'Barbie' Makes History, Becoming First Billion-Dollar Movie Directed Solely by a Woman

Greta Gerwig's movie challenges dated notions about the box-office appeal of films centered on women

Barbie's faithful sidekick, Ken, hit shelves in 1961.

Why the Ken Doll Will Never Truly Emerge From Barbie’s Shadow

The blockbuster film sparks a podcast discussion about why Ken can’t possibly be (k)enough

Barbie has held more than 250 jobs since her debut in 1959.

When Barbie Broke the Glass Ceiling

The iconic doll traveled to space, flew with the Thunderbirds and joined the NBA, beating real-life women to an array of career milestones

The exterior of the life-size Barbie DreamHouse in Malibu, which is available for stays on Airbnb later this month

You Can Rent Barbie's DreamHouse on Airbnb

Up to four guests will get to stay in the Malibu mansion for free ahead of the upcoming "Barbie" movie

Illustration by Nina Goldman / Images via Smithsonian Folkways Records

Celebrating 75 Years of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

The vast, eclectic public archive of American music—and other sounds—is featured on a new episode of the Sidedoor podcast

Margot Robbie stars in the live-action Barbie movie.

Did the 'Barbie' Movie Cause a Pink Paint Shortage?

The film recreates the famous doll's brightly colored world—with the help of one specific shade of pink

The three-foot-long fiberglass mermaid sold for $300 at auction.

Who Wants to Buy the Creepy Dolls and Bowling Balls That Wash Up on Texas Beaches?

Hundreds of eclectic items were auctioned off to help fund the rehabilitation of sea turtles and birds

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