Toys · 1903
The Birth of Bears, Crayons, and Commerce
In 1903, childhood play was transformed by groundbreaking inventions that would shape playrooms for over a century. From the birth of the Teddy Bear to the debut of Crayola crayons, play became more imaginative, colorful, and interactive than ever before.
- Ideal Toy Corporation / USA / Plush
Ideal Toy Company Teddy Bear
Morris Michtom begins mass-producing soft stuffed bears named after President Theodore Roosevelt, creating an instant international obsession.
- Margarete Steiff GmbH / Germany / Plush
Steiff 55 PB Jointed Bear
Designed by Richard Steiff and showcased at the Leipzig Toy Fair, this mohair bear featuring moveable limbs becomes a foundational masterpiece of modern plush toys.
- Binney & Smith / USA / Art Toy
Binney & Smith Crayola Crayons
Debuting for just five cents, the original eight-pack of wax crayons brings affordable, non-toxic vibrant color into home playrooms and schoolhouses.
- Lizzie Magie / USA / Board Game
The Landlord's Game
Anti-monopolist Lizzie Magie designs this inventive board game to illustrate the economic pitfalls of land grabbing, laying the direct foundation for Monopoly.
- Parker Brothers / USA / Card Game
Pit Card Game
Simulating the chaotic energy of the Chicago Board of Trade, this fast-paced commodity trading card game becomes an immediate party hit for Parker Brothers.
- A. Schoenhut Company / USA / Wooden Toy
Schoenhut Humpty Dumpty Circus
Featuring jointed wooden clowns and animals that can pose in balancing tricks, this playset launches a wildly popular line of interactive circus toys.
- Frank Hornby / UK / Model Building
Mechanics Made Easy Construction Sets
Frank Hornby expands his revolutionary system of perforated steel strips, nuts, and bolts, allowing children to build working miniature cranes and bridges.
- Lionel / USA / Model Train
Lionel No. 20 Electric Train Set
Powered by a small electric motor running on metal tracks, Lionel's early motorized locomotives turn parlor floors into bustling railway hubs.
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