Toys

Children in Kansas, as around the world, have always enjoyed playing with toys whether they are miniature versions of items used by adults, cuddly copies of animals, or out of this world objects. Toys have been found in the earliest of civilizations.

Early toys were handmade of accessible materials like stone, wood, pottery, and leather. Marbles, balls, dolls, jacks and yo-yos were popular; some early toys were made with moveable parts.

Educational toys became popular in the early 19th century like building blocks, puzzles, and kaleidoscopes. Later in the century metal die-cast cars, trains, ships, trains, and even toy soldiers became popular. Puzzles became popular around the world, including mechanical ones with secret compartments.

Toys of the 20th century took advantage of new technology and materials like plastics and include Silly Putty, a synthetic rubber materials invented by mistake; Play-Doh, invented for use as wallpaper cleaner; Legos, colorful building blocks; Slinky, created as part of military research; fashion dolls; and toys spurred by the space race.

Children make such strong connections with their toys that they continue to collect them into adulthood.

The Kansas Museum of History’s collection of toys spans from early times to recent past. Some of these toys are hand-made. Others were mass produced and reflect the popular culture of the day, like westerns from the 1950s and early 1960s, space-related toys from the 1960s, and toys related to popular books and movies like Star Wars and Harry Potter.


Child's Tipi, 62.34.31	Ceramic Doll Head, 14EL301	Toy Circus Clown, 1954.68.81

Toy Stagecoach, 1957.105.10	Kansas Centennial Doll, 1963.5.1	Toy garden tools, 1969.173.1247

Toy train, 1970.1	Astro Captain, 1970.173.23.2	Toy metal cowboy, 1970.175.95

Toy robot, 1970.175.473	Super Astronaut, 1971.57.39.20	Mr. Patrol, 1971.57.40

Toy spaceship, 1971.57.38	Prisoner Doll, 1972.153.1	French Yerri doll, 1972.56.31

Clockwork dolls, 1972.13.78.2 and 1972.13.78.1	Winnie the Pooh riding toy, 1973.119.46	Toy kitchen, 1973.119.31

Mattel's Dream Car, 1975.101.5	Timely Turnabout Toy Car, 1975.101.6	Toy telephone, 1977.199.380

Doll House Living Room, 1978.75.247	Doll House Bathroom, 1978.75.248	Doll House Bedroom, 1978.75.250

Ray gun, 1978.75.285	Kermit the Frog Stuffed Toy, 1978.75.381	Mickey Mouse Stuffed Toy, 1980.214.1218

Bus, 1980.199.4	Chewbacca, 1980.214.552	Street front, 1980.383.121

Street front, 1980.383.121	Ronald McDonald, 1986.121.2	Gunsmoke lunchbox, 1987.29.1

Piñata, 1987.83	Toy guitar, 1987.190.32	Popeye Bubble Set, 1988.139.13.4

Stuffed Toy, 1988.197.106	Pizza Hut Pete Bank, 1989.33.106	Dick Tracy 2-Way Wrist Radio, 1989.133.4

Batman toy, 1992.3	C-3PO, Star Wars toy, 1992.37.1	Star Wars toy, 1992.37.2

Han Solo, Star Wars toy, 1992.37.3	Luke Skywalker, Star Wars toy, 1992.37.4	Star Wars toy, 1992.37.5

Smurf, 1994.16	Steiff donkey, 1997.65.1	Republican Elephant Stuffed Toy, 1998.32.117

Hand-carved Pinoccho, 1999.67.5	Hand-carved donkey and cart, 1999.67.6	Snow Globe, 2000.2.1

Time Tube, 2000.3.1	Y2K stuffed doll, 2000.7	Kansas centennial doll, 2000.63.1

Victorian dollhouse, 2001.12.1	Movin' Groovin' Crissy Doll, 2001.68.15	Streethearts Doll, 2001.68.16

Assemblage, 2004.16.1	Wyatt Earp puzzle, 2005.68.8	Pull Toy, 2008.19.6

Viewmaster, 2010.16.24	Handmade doll, 2010.27.1	Harry Potter doll, 2010.32.1

Ron Weasley doll, 2010.32.2	Hermione Granger doll, 2010.32.3	Autograph dog, 2010.33

Dorothy Gale Barbie doll, 2010.68.15