Celebrate the Holidays with American Girl Pop-Up Museum Exhibit
A message from Blake Changnon, founder, president, and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles:
I’m still feeling the magic of today’s sold-out pop-up exhibit at the Connie Morella Library. "Celebrate the Holidays with American Girl" was everything I hoped it would be and more, and it felt especially meaningful to share this experience during the holiday season.
When the doors opened, the room filled with quiet wonder. Children gazed at the displays with wide eyes, longtime collectors revisited cherished memories, and families lingered together, tracing how each American Girl experienced the holidays in her own time and place. Watching visitors move from Kirsten’s Saint Lucia wreath to Rebecca’s menorah and dreidel was a powerful reminder of how enduring and meaningful these stories continue to be.
I’m deeply grateful to everyone who attended and took the time to truly read, reflect, and connect. Curating this museum experience from rare and original holiday pieces in my collection was a true labor of love. Designing the displays to honor Pleasant Company’s storytelling and seeing visitors notice and appreciate those details was incredibly rewarding. The fact that the event sold out was both humbling and affirming.
Because of the overwhelming response, I plan to share this holiday exhibit on the museum’s website so those who could not attend can still experience it. More details to come soon.
A heartfelt thank-you to the incredible library staff, especially Rachel, to our wonderful volunteers, and to my endlessly supportive husband, Alex, for helping bring this seasonal vision to life.
Wishing everyone a warm and joyful holiday season. Enjoy this short video tour of the exhibit, filmed just before we opened the doors. More to come!