150 years of toys go on display

Tools

Story Published: Nov 12, 2009 at 5:28 PM PST

By Kristina Nelson, KCBY News

NORTH BEND, Ore. - Whether you're two or 92, everyone loves playing with toys and games.

So going off that notion, the Coos Historical and Maritime Museum is opening up a new exhibit highlighting a 150 year history of toys.

Walking into this part of the museum is like taking a trip back in time.

Featuring dolls as old as 150 years, toy trucks from the early 1900s, and some newer technology, the exhibit has a little something for everyone.

Museum Collections Manager Vicki Wiese, says when researching for this exhibit, she was interested to learn that most toys have always served a dual purpose.

"There's always a reason why they're made, an education component for children. A lot of dolls were not give to little girls as companions or play things, but, they were give to teach them how to be good mothers. Little boys got things like erector sets and tinker toys so that they would, it would help them in their future adult lives," says Wiese.

She says one of her favorite parts of the exhibit is a toy truck that is on loan from a community member.

"There was a toy company in Coquille call Sturdi-Built toys and the man who started this toy company, his son still lives in the area and he loaned us one of these toys that was built in the 1950s in our very own toy factory here in the county."

150 years of toys opens this Saturday, November 14th.

Admission is free this Saturday at the museum, which is open from 10 until four.

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