National Toy Hall of Fame announces 2015 finalists

The Strong Museum has announced the 12 finalists for induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame.

Established in 1998, the Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and shown longevity.

The winners will join other mega-popular toys and games already in the Hall of Fame, like G.I. Joe, Barbie, the Easy-Bake Oven, and Monopoly.

To date, 56 toys have been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.

Last year’s inductees were little green army men, bubbles and Rubik’s cube.

The finalists are chosen by historians and curators at The Strong museum, where a panel of judges made up of inventors, educators, psychologists and more will then select the winners.

-Innovation, “The toy profoundly changed play or toy design”.

Maybe it was a teddy bear or blanket you got as an infant, or that Rubik’s Cube that you just couldn’t put down.

If a toy doesn’t make the cut on year, it may be re-nominated: American Girl dolls, Jenga, Wiffle Balls, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the scooter and Twister have all previously been up for consideration. Twister was introduced in 1966, followed a year later by Battleship. Or do the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have what it takes?