10 Interesting Facts About American Girl Dolls

In 1986, Pleasant Rowland established American Girl as a lighthearted approach to instructing young girls about the rich history of the United States.

At first, the dolls could only be purchased via a catalog. Indeed, it was a desire or possession for every youth in the '90s. Currently, it's a massive enterprise that encompasses restaurants, books, movies, and flagship stores in the majority of big cities. A trip to the hairdresser, a shopping spree, or even a cooking class could be in your future with your doll. Despite their widespread fame, there are still a few things about these legendary toys that you might not be aware of.

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10 Interesting Facts About American Girl Dolls

American Girl Dolls: Who Are They?

On May 5, 1986, Pleasant Company debuted their American Girl line of dolls, which measure 18 inches (46 cm). Girls from all walks of life, ages eight to fourteen, representing a wide range of cultures, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds, inhabit these dolls from all corners of the globe and every era. The books that go along with them are written from the girls' points of view. Originally set in different eras of American history, the stories eventually grew to incorporate people and events from the present day. Aside from the classic American Girl dolls, there is also the Truly Me line, which offers a wide range of customization options like eye color, face shape, skin color, hair texture, and hair length. You can also find a wide selection of complementary apparel and accessories.

Who designed American Girl Dolls?

Pleasant was correct when she established American Girl in 1986 on the belief that girls may be inspired to make a positive impact on the world through outstanding stories featuring ambitious characters.We have been a reliable ally in the fight to instill self-esteem and moral fiber in young women ever since.

The American Girls Collection was Pleasant's debut offering; she was inspired to combine her passion for American history with her dedication to producing top-notch educational materials after a visit to Colonial Williamsburg. From that point on, she continued to create books, dolls, and toys that highlight important values via play and learning. One of her lifelong goals was to build an experience retail store, and in 1998 she did just that in Chicago. There, American Girl admirers could peruse the wares up close and personal, and become completely engrossed in the brand's universe.

Mattel bought out American Girl in 1998 as the brand's popularity skyrocketed. Thanks to Pleasant's pioneering spirit, we've become one of the most cherished brands in America.As a company, we take great pride in the fact that our stories have inspired a whole new generation of strong women to follow in the footsteps of our exceptional founder, Pleasant T. Rowland.

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Timelines of American Girl Dolls

1986

For girls aged 8 and up, we present our new line of historical figures, which includes 18-inch dolls with expansive play environments. In a book series that focuses on each character, we learn about her time and the significant impact that women and girls had on the development of our nation.

1995

New Truly Me® dolls were introduced to a modern 18-inch doll universe. A girl can gain the courage to be herself by playing with these dolls, which enable her to express herself, discover new things, and embrace her current identity.

Helping younger girls learn valuable life skills like caring and nurturing, the world of Bitty Baby® arrives with a 15-inch baby doll.

To broaden the scope of girls' entertainment options, the American Girl library now includes contemporary literature as well as historical fiction, with the latter supplemented with expert guidance and interactive activities.

1998

An award-winning retail environment comes to life in Chicago as the first American Girl store opens, bringing to life all the characters and events that girls love. Girls all across the nation were able to experience meals, festivities, salon treatments, and interactive activities like never before as our businesses expanded across the nation in the years that followed.

2001

With the 2001 Girl of the YearTM joining the American Girl universe, a varied array of personalities and backgrounds are brought to life through 18-inch contemporary character dolls that face concerns of the modern day.

2016

Girls aged 4–7 may learn the value of friendship with the help of the WellieWishersTM, a magical universe filled with 14.5-inch character dolls, early chapter books, and accessories.

2017

Create Your Own gives girls the chance to make their ideal doll and outfit come to life, providing them with the most personalized experience ever.

2024

Classic Addy, Kirsten, and Josefina books from 1993, 1986, and 1997 are back in print, along with limited-edition birthday attire. New language and images, as well as other materials, make the reissued volumes more accessible and useful for students of history.

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10 Interesting Facts About American Girl Dolls

1. A visit to the toy store was the beginning

Pleasant Rowland, founder of American Girl, got the concept for the firm in the mid-1980s while shopping for Christmas presents for her little nieces. "Here I was, in a generation of women at the forefront of redefining women's roles, and yet our daughters were playing with dolls that celebrated being a teen queen or a mommy," she told the news organization in 2012. American Girl was established when Rowland brought together her passion for history and the idea of coordinating dolls with books.

2. There were a mere three dolls available initially

Pictured here are Kirsten Larson, Samantha Parkington, and Molly McIntyre—the three dolls available when the firm debuted in 1986. Kirsten and Molly both retired in 2010, while Samantha was fired in 2008 and then briefly revived in 2014 wearing new clothes.

3. A lot has changed with the dolls during the years

Prior to Mattel's 1998 acquisition, the characters exhibited fuller lips and cheeks, bigger feet, and a fuller body form (no thigh gap or butt) with fuller faces. Toys made now look very different from their ancestors, and it's not just in terms of clothing.

4. Everyone thought it was a terrible plan

"Are you kidding?" was the summation of the reaction to Rowland's proposal, which she recalled at the American Girl 25th anniversary party. The reception was one of "disbelief and patronizing tolerance." Who needs Barbie when you have historical dolls? Industry insiders reportedly informed Rowland that dolls priced above $40 would not sell. This information was reported by Fortune. The direct marketing industry insiders at Lands' End were pessimistic about Rowland's prospects for success. Her direct mailing list manager cautioned her to exercise caution and send out a mere 100,000 catalogs. "I told them, 'No way,'" Rowland recounted to CNN Money. On that Christmas, we had to make a move, and American Girl would succeed or fail. We then crossed our fingers after mailing half a million catalogs.

5. The original dolls came with six books that followed naming conventions

There was a six-book series featuring all the dolls that ran from 1986 to 2000. The titles were:

Get to Know [Character]: A Native American Girl

One [person] Discovers Wisdom: A Story Set at a School

This person's An Unexpected Holiday Tale

In the Springtime, It's Your Birthday!: A Story About [Character]!

One [person] A Summer Story: Saving the Day

Updates to [Character]: A Winter Tale

6. A plethora of kits and extras were available, some of which may have slipped your mind

Pleasant Company offered a variety of doll clothing and accessories based on themes found in each doll's books. For instance, Samantha's birthday collection featured a wicker table and chairs, a mohair teddy bear, and a doll pram. Other sets included lemonade, party treats, a book, and a "lacy pinafore dress" with a flower crown. Night time sets included a bed and a wardrobe or trunk to store clothes and accessories. Pleasant Company also sold what they called Scenes & Settings.

7. Extensive research is conducted on every historical figure

Three librarians and historians "do the groundwork that provides everything from the best name for the doll to the details of the doll's life, which the designers and even the authors of American Girl books then work from," according to a 2012 Chicago Tribune article about the American Girl headquarters' library. "There are drawers holding actual day dresses from the 1800s, antique umbrellas, old newspapers," she said, referring to another area of the headquarters. Then there were the containers that held every possible doll part and accessory: straw hats, fabric hats, flocked hats, stockings, sweaters, hairy heads, hairless heads, and everything in between.

It might take anything from three to five years to make one historical doll. Brand spokesperson Stephanie Spanos stated the Ashbury Park Press in 2014, "because we want to get it right," that the company has an advisory board consisting of historians, editors, journalists, and product designers. Lots of time is required.

8. Musicals starring American Girl were available

From 1998 until 2008, "The American Girls Revue" was performed at Chicago's American Girl Place, as well as other stores in New York and Los Angeles. "Bitty Bear's Matinee: The Family Tree" and "Circle of Friends: An American Girl Musical" were two other shows with an American Girl theme.

9. American Girl books have sold over 157 million copies

Valerie Tripp is the author of nearly all of them. It gets better: since 1986, American Girl dolls have sold more than 32 million units.

10. There's a massive fanbase for American Girl on the internet

American Girl has collected nearly three million followers across all of its social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest. There are a lot of entertaining skits, interviews with famous people, and instructional films for youngsters on the brand's YouTube page.

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