Pop-up and party: Barbie is coming to Northport Historical Society this March
A Barbie pop-up exhibit at the Northport Historical Society runs through March 31. Barbie's 65th birthday celebration, also at the museum, is on Saturday, March 9, from 1:30 to 4pm.
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The following article was written by Carol Taylor, education coordinator at the Northport Historical Society.
Northport Historical Society is gearing up for its first pop-up exhibit of 2024 where we will celebrate 65 years of Barbie (doesn’t she look great!) with vintage dolls and accessories on loan from local collectors in this “Northport Collects” series exhibit. While we wait for the exhibit to begin, let's get a sneak peek into Barbie's humble beginnings and her incredible success around the world:
Barbie made her fashion model debut at the 1959 New York Toy Fair, and cost just three dollars! That year, sales of Barbie dolls exceeded 300,000, as little girls eagerly sought a doll as glamorous as Liz Taylor and Marilyn Monroe.
Today, 100 Barbie dolls are sold every minute, amounting to about 58 million dolls sold each year.
Barbie is one of the most popular dolls on the market, and the Barbie brand has over 99% brand awareness globally. With an impressive 19 million followers across platforms, Barbie has a major impact on social media, especially on Instagram, where she has over 1.8 million followers.
Barbie’s transformation from rejection to worldwide success is a testament to the doll’s creator, Ruth Handler. Handler insisted little girls would gravitate to an adult female doll with her endless outfits. She named her concept doll Barbie after her own daughter, Barbara, and the rest is history.
Learn more about Barbie this March as we celebrate the iconic doll in Barbie, The Pop-up Exhibit. View the vintage dolls, clothing, and accessories on loan from local collectors. Dive into the history of Barbie, starting from her introduction at the 1959 New York Toy Fair to the 2023 Barbie movie, and uncover interesting facts about her and her friends.
Barbie fans and the Barbie-curious are also encouraged to join us on Saturday, March 9 for a fun-filled afternoon for all ages as we celebrate 65 years of Barbie!
Education Coordinator Carol Taylor and Marketing and Membership Coordinator John Daniello will delve into the origins of Barbara Millicent Roberts and her friends during a Barbie Through the Years and The Forgotten Dolls of BarbieLand presentation.
Kids will enjoy an afternoon of Barbie-themed crafts, take Instagram-worthy photos in our Barbie photo booth, and savor delicious Barbie-inspired cupcakes from Casey Cakes. All children will leave with a $5 gift certificate to Einstein’s Attic.
Dressing as your favorite Barbie (or Ken) doll is highly encouraged!
The Barbie pop-up exhibit runs through March 31. Barbie’s 65th birthday celebration is on Saturday, March 9, from 1:30 to 4pm. Tickets are $10 per adult and $5 per child. All ages welcome. For tickets, visit www.northporthistorical.org.
