Happy Birthday, American Girl!: Celebrating the ‘Happy Birthday!’ Stories and 40 Years of Storytelling Pop-Up Museum Exhibit
A message from Blake Changnon, founder, president, and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles:
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there, and a heartfelt thank you to the many mothers and families who joined us today for our “Happy Birthday, American Girl!: Celebrating the ‘Happy Birthday!’ Stories and 40 Years of Storytelling” pop-up exhibit. Today’s sold-out exhibit at the Connie Morella Library was such a joyful celebration of storytelling, history, and the magic that American Girl has brought to generations of readers over the last 40 years.
Inspired by the beloved Happy Birthday books of the Historical Characters, this special anniversary exhibit invited visitors to step into the birthday celebrations of the first seven girls who helped define American Girl’s early years. From cakes and party treats to treasured gifts and decorations, each display brought to life the traditions, customs, and everyday moments that made these stories feel so real and unforgettable.
One of the most rewarding parts of the day was watching visitors slow down and truly take in the details. Children pointed excitedly at familiar accessories, especially Molly’s birthday cake, parents shared memories of their own childhood collections, and longtime fans reflected on how deeply these stories shaped their love of history and reading. Seeing families experience these worlds together is always incredibly meaningful to me. It felt like the perfect way to celebrate American Girl’s 40th anniversary.
Curating this exhibit from rare and original pieces in the museum’s collection was truly a labor of love. I especially enjoyed highlighting the unique objects Pleasant Company designed for each character’s world and watching visitors connect those pieces back to the stories they remembered so fondly.
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this exhibit so special. I’m deeply grateful to the incredible library staff, to our wonderful and amazing museum volunteers Ashley and Shannon, and to my supportive husband, Alex, for helping bring this exhibit to life.