The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles

10/06/2026

If you haven’t already, check out this article that our president, CEO and founder Blake Changnon wrote that explores the creative products that expanded the American Girl brand beyond the doll that we know and love.

Blake Changnon, president, CEO, and founder of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles, explores the creative products that expanded the American Girl brand beyond the dolls.

10/05/2026

A message from Blake Changnon, founder, president and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles:

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday at the Connie Morella Library for our newest pop-up exhibit, “Summer Adventures with American Girl.” It was such a joy to spend the afternoon sharing another part of the museum’s collection and celebrating the stories that have made American Girl so meaningful to generations of readers.

This exhibit explored the “summer story,” or fifth book, in the original six-book journeys of the American Girl Historical Characters. From adventures close to home to journeys into unfamiliar places, these stories challenged each character to step outside her comfort zone, face difficult situations and discover that courage can take many different forms.

Bringing these stories together in one exhibit was a wonderful reminder of just how much storytelling was woven into the dolls, clothing, accessories and playsets created to accompany the books. Each object helped children step more deeply into a character’s world and imagine what it might have been like to experience a summer adventure in another time and place.

One of my favorite parts of these pop-up exhibits is seeing visitors recognize an object they once owned, remember a story they loved or discover something about American Girl they never knew before. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, shared memories, asked questions and spent part of your Sunday exploring the collection with us.

I am especially grateful to the Connie Morella Library and its staff for once again welcoming the museum and helping make these community exhibits possible. A special thank you to my husband, Alex, for all of his help and support before, during and after the exhibit. These pop-ups truly would not be possible without him.

Although our “Summer Adventures” have come to an end, there is much more ahead for The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles. We look forward to continuing to preserve and share the history, stories and objects that have inspired generations.

Thank you for another wonderful day, and stay tuned for where the museum’s collection will travel next!

09/30/2026

A message from Blake Changnon, founder, president and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles:

I’m excited to share my latest article for Toy Tales, continuing the celebration of American Girl’s 40th Anniversary!

In “Beyond the Books and Dolls: How American Girl Expanded,” I explore the many ways Pleasant Company and American Girl brought its historical characters to life beyond the books and dolls that started it all. From paper dolls, craft books and cookbooks to theatre kits, trading cards, games and more, these products gave children new ways to step into their favorite characters’ worlds while learning about history through play.

For many of us who grew up with American Girl, these pieces became just as memorable as the books and dolls themselves. They encouraged us to cook Kirsten’s recipes, make Samantha’s crafts, perform plays inspired by characters including Molly, collect and trade cards, and continue their stories through games and activities.

I’m grateful to Joanna Hauser and the team at Toy Tales for once again inviting me to share a piece of Pleasant Company and American Girl history with their readers.

I hope you’ll take a moment to read the article, and I’d love to know: Did you have any of these activities growing up? Which one was your favorite?

READ: https://toytales.ca/beyond-the-books-and-dolls-how-american-girl-expanded/

09/24/2026

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! NEW POP-UP EXHIBIT COMING SOON! FREE TICKETS ARE REQUIRED!

Summer may be over, but let’s celebrate the summer adventures and stories of the American Girl Historical Characters! Blake Changnon and The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles are proud to present our next in-person pop-up museum exhibit: Summer Adventures with American Girl.

Join us on Sunday, October 4, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Connie Morella Library, where you can step into a special showcase highlighting the beloved American Girl Historical Characters and their “summer story” collections. Registration for free tickets is now OPEN!

Summer was a season of adventure for every American Girl Historical Character. This mini-museum brings to life the fifth book in each character's six-book journey, where long summer days led to exciting adventures, discoveries, and unforgettable acts of courage. Through rare and original artifacts from the museum's collection, visitors will discover how each girl stepped beyond the familiar, faced her fears, and grew through experiences that shaped her confidence and character.

Whether traveling to a new place, exploring the outdoors, helping family and friends, or meeting people whose lives were different from their own, each Historical Character discovered that bravery comes from perseverance, compassion, and doing what is right when it matters most. In the end, each found her own way to "save the day."

This exhibit is a hands-off experience designed to protect these fragile, one-of-a-kind items from the museum’s collection. Visitors of all ages are welcome, as long as museum etiquette is observed. For this reason, we recommend this experience for individuals aged nine and up.

Registration is required for this event and will open on September 20, 2026. Groups will be contacted before the event with an assigned fifteen-minute time slot to walk through the collection.

Discover the adventures, friendships, and courageous moments that made the Saves the Day stories unforgettable, and see how ordinary girls found the courage to make an extraordinary difference:

Summer was a season of adventure for every American Girl Historical Character. Join us as we explore the beloved "Saves the Day" stories of the first seven Historical Characters.. Event starts at October 4, 2026 12:00 PM EDT

09/09/2026

A message from Blake Changnon, founder, president and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles:

September has always been special to me. Forty years ago this month, Pleasant Company mailed its first catalogue, introducing families to Kirsten, Samantha, Molly and a new way of bringing history to life. September is also my birthday month and today is my birthday!

September marks another milestone: five years ago this month, I launched The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles. What began as a way to preserve and share my collection has grown beyond anything I imagined. In five years, the museum has:

• Presented nine exhibitions, with more coming this year
• Welcomed 85K+ website visits and 486K+ pageviews
• Welcomed 1,400+ visitors to in-person exhibitions
• Assisted American Girl with The Making of American Girl
• Participated in the upcoming documentary All American Girls
• Participated in six media interviews, including our first national television appearance on CBS Sunday Morning
• Participated in programs at the Library of Congress, Colonial Williamsburg, American Library Association and more
• Participated in four conference panels and five podcast interviews
• Contributed two guest articles about American Girl
• Built friendships with American Girl authors, artists, former employees, collectors and fans
• And so much more!

Five years ago, I never could have predicted where this museum would take me or the people I would meet. What started with a love for Pleasant Company and American Girl and a desire to preserve its history has become one of the most rewarding journeys of my life.

Most importantly, none of this would mean nearly as much without all of you. To everyone who has visited, attended an exhibition, listened to an interview, shared a post, offered encouragement or simply followed along: thank you.

It feels fitting that September marks Pleasant Company’s first catalogue, my birthday and the museum’s anniversary. Here’s to five years of the museum, 40 years of American Girl history and whatever comes next. Thank you for being part of the journey. ❤️

📸: Colonial Williamsburg

09/02/2026

A message from Blake Changnon, founder, president, and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles:

ALL AMERICAN GIRLS is heading to film festivals this fall!

When I first announced my involvement in ALL AMERICAN GIRLS, I shared that being part of this documentary was nothing short of a dream come true. Now, I am so excited to see the film making its way into the world!

I feel incredibly fortunate and grateful to have played a small part in this documentary and to share my admiration, knowledge and experiences with American Girl and Pleasant Company on film. As many of you know, this brand is so much more than a collection or a hobby for me. It is part of my story, and the people who brought Pleasant Rowland’s vision to life have inspired so much of the work I do today.

One of the things I’m most excited about is for audiences to hear from some of the remarkable people who helped create the characters, stories and world that have meant so much to generations of American Girl fans.

And I really wish I had some behind-the-scenes photos from filming that I could share with you all! 😂 Unfortunately, you’ll just have to wait and see the documentary to find out what we talked about and what made it into the final film!

ALL AMERICAN GIRLS will be playing at film festivals across the United States this fall, with additional premiere dates coming soon. Tickets are already on sale for the Buffalo International Film Festival screening on October 11, which will include a Q&A with American Girl author (and my wonderful friend!) Connie Porter!

Congratulations to Christy and the entire ALL AMERICAN GIRLS team. I am so grateful to have been included in this project, and I cannot wait to finally experience the finished film alongside all of you. ❤️

Follow on Instagram for the latest screening announcements and updates!

P.S. I want to know, who do you think is on the film poster? 😉

07/24/2026

A message from Blake Changnon, founder, president, and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles:

This past weekend marked one of the proudest moments in the history of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles.

Our newest pop-up exhibit, "Felicity's World," opened for one day at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, bringing Felicity Merriman's story back to the very place that inspired it.

For three hours, visitors explored original Pleasant Company and American Girl dolls, outfits, accessories, books and rare historical artifacts that traced Felicity's journey through all six of her original stories. The exhibit also highlighted the unique partnership between Pleasant Company and Colonial Williamsburg, showcasing artifacts from the “Felicity Elegant Tea Party” from 1991 and “Felicity in Williamsburg: An American Girl Experience” that took place in 1996 through the early 2000s.

The response was incredible. Throughout the morning, I had the opportunity to meet visitors from across the country, hear their memories of growing up with Felicity, answer questions about Pleasant Company, and watch a new generation discover her story for the very first time. By the end of the exhibit, we welcomed 247 visitors! One of my favorite moments was meeting a young fan of both American Girl and my museum, Riley, who asked me many questions, told me the American Girl stories she has read and even drew a picture for me!

Standing in Colonial Williamsburg, surrounded by the history that inspired Felicity and sharing this collection with so many passionate visitors, was a full-circle moment I will never forget.

Thank you to Colonial Williamsburg, the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, Rebecca Starkins Godzik, Michelle Smith and everyone who stopped by the exhibit, and, of course my husband Alex, and best friend, Ashley, who helped make this weekend possible. Thank you for helping preserve and celebrate the remarkable legacy of Pleasant Company and American Girl.

07/23/2026

A message from Blake Changnon, founder, president, and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles:

What an unforgettable weekend at Colonial Williamsburg celebrating the legacy of Felicity Merriman and the history that inspired her story.

Last Friday, I had the incredible honor of joining Valerie Tripp, Sandy Bradshaw, Jenny Lynn, and moderator Rebecca Starkins Godzik for "Origins of an American Girl: A Panel Discussion." Together, we explored how Felicity came to life both in her story and her product as well as Pleasant Company's founding and commitment to historical accuracy and the extensive research that Colonial Williamsburg and Pleasant Company partnered on. It was a privilege to share my own American Girl journey and discuss how preserving this history continues to inspire my work today.

The celebration continued with the “1774 Style Showcase: The Fashion Behind Felicity”, where the talented milliners and mantua-makers of Colonial Williamsburg beautifully recreated several of Felicity's iconic fashions. Seeing these was a wonderful reminder of the remarkable scholarship and craftsmanship that made the books and products so authentic.

Saturday evening concluded the weekend with Valerie Tripp's inspiring talk about her life and her time writing Felicity’s story. Listening to Valerie reflect on her research, her writing process, and the enduring impact of these stories was a special experience that reminded everyone why Felicity has resonated with readers for nearly forty years.

A heartfelt thank you to Colonial Williamsburg, the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, Valerie Tripp, Rebecca Starkins Godzik, Michelle Smith, Sandy Bradshaw, Jenny Lynn, and everyone who worked so hard to make this weekend such a meaningful celebration of history, storytelling and American Girl. It was an honor to be part of it.

07/13/2026

A message from Blake Changnon, founder, president, and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles:

Last month, I had the incredible honor of attending my very first American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Chicago, and what an unforgettable experience it was!

It was a privilege to connect and join with the American Girl and Mattel Press teams, connect with librarians, educators, authors and readers from across the country, and celebrate the lasting impact of literature.

One of the highlights was the “Then, Now, Next: 40 Years of American Girl Stories” panel moderated by American Girl’s senior director of content, Jodi Goldberg, and featuring American Girl authors (and good friends) Valerie Tripp, Connie Porter, Megan Wagner Lloyd as well as American Girl’s current senior historical researcher, Dr. Kat Cartwright. Seeing a standing-room-only audience at the panel and a signing line afterwards stretching all the way to the other side of the conference center was a powerful reminder that even 40 years later, American Girl continues to inspire readers of all ages.

Beyond the panel, I loved spending time at the beautiful American Girl and Mattel Press booth, meeting so many wonderful people who share a passion for history and storytelling, and celebrating the enduring legacy of the books that have meant so much to generations of readers.

Thank you to everyone at American Girl for your kindness and hospitality throughout the weekend. It was an honor to be at a such a special event. ❤️

07/04/2026

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! OUR NEXT POP-UP EXHIBIT IS COMING TO COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG!

In honor of our country's semiquincentennial, we are excited to announce our next exhibit! Step into the world of Felicity Merriman with an all-new pop-up exhibit from The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg!

Join us on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Goode Education Studio inside the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg for “Felicity's World,” a special exhibition exploring the beloved American Girl character whose story was inspired by Colonial Williamsburg itself.

Travel back to 1774 and discover Felicity's world through her six original stories. Featuring original dolls, outfits, accessories, playthings and other accessories, each display highlights the everyday life, responsibilities, friendships and memorable moments that shaped Felicity's journey on the eve of the American Revolution.

Because this exhibit is presented in the very place that inspired Felicity's stories, visitors will also discover how the real people, places and events of Colonial Williamsburg helped shape one of American Girl's most beloved Historical Characters. The exhibit also features special items celebrating the historic partnership between Pleasant Company and Colonial Williamsburg, offering a unique look at how Felicity's story has been interpreted and shared with generations of readers.

This is a hands-off exhibit designed to protect these fragile, one-of-a-kind objects from the museum's collection. Visitors of all ages are welcome, though we recommend the experience for ages 9 and up.

Goode Education Studio
Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
326 W. Francis St.
Williamsburg, VA 23185

Whether you grew up reading Felicity's adventures, have fond memories of the dolls, or are discovering her story for the first time, we hope you'll join us for this special opportunity to experience history where her story began. Check the link in our bio for more details.

This exhibit is independently curated and is not affiliated with or endorsed by American Girl or Mattel. https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/events/a-dolls-history-brought-to-life/