American Girl’s 40th Anniversary and Blake Changnon’s Appearance on CBS Sunday Morning
A message from Blake Changnon, founder, president, and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles:
I’m still reflecting on the wonderful segment that CBS Sunday Morning aired on American Girl’s 40th anniversary this morning. As many of you saw, I had the incredible opportunity to participate, and I am so grateful for the experience.
Back in March, I was asked by American Girl and Mattel if I would be willing to provide pieces from my personal collection for the segment and bring them to their New York City store. I immediately said yes and took a lovely trip with my husband, Alex, traveling with two suitcases full of my collection.
For the segment, I brought a selection of items that represent the heart of Pleasant Company and American Girl, including:
The original six Historical Characters in their meet outfits from the time period they were released
Nine different outfits from each Historical Character’s collection displayed alongside early design sketches
A variety of Pleasant Company books
Archival papers and materials, including my 1986 Pleasant Company catalogue
Seeing these pieces on set and knowing they helped bring this story to life for a national audience was truly surreal. One of the most special parts of the trip was getting to see my dear friend, Valerie Tripp, interviewed for the segment alongside Jamie Cygielman, Global Head of Dolls at Mattel, and it was inspiring to watch them both share their stories so beautifully.
Just when I thought the experience was coming to an end, Valerie kindly introduced me to the interviewer, Faith Saile, and her producer, Sari. They were fascinated by my knowledge of Pleasant Company and American Girl. The next day, Sari asked if I would be open to being interviewed to share my personal story and my collection. I immediately said yes, welcomed the crew into my home, and had the opportunity to share my story in a way I never imagined.
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share not just my collection, but my passion for preserving and celebrating the history of American Girl. This truly felt like a full circle moment, from being a fan to helping tell the story on such a meaningful platform. Thank you to everyone who made this possible. I will never forget it.
Video: CBS Sunday Morning, 2026