Happy Birthday, American Girl!: Celebrating the ‘Happy Birthday!’ Stories and 40 Years of Storytelling Pop-Up Museum Exhibit at Rust Library
A message from Blake Changnon, founder, president, and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles:
A little late sharing this because I've been under the weather recently, but thank you to everyone who joined us at Rust Library in Leesburg, Virginia, last weekend for our pop-up exhibit, “Happy Birthday, American Girl!: Celebrating the 'Happy Birthday!' Stories and 40 Years of Storytelling.” It was such a joy to share this special exhibit again with visitors from across the region and celebrate four decades of American Girl storytelling together.
One of my favorite parts of the day was meeting Autum Camille Pyland in person. Autum holds a unique place in American Girl history as she was the model featured on the cover of the very first American Girl catalogue in 1986. She even brought a Molly doll dressed in her birthday outfit, making the exhibit feel even more special and reminding us how many people have helped shape American Girl's remarkable story over the past forty years.
As American Girl celebrates its 40th anniversary, I am continually reminded of the lasting impact these stories have had on readers and collectors alike. It was inspiring to see so many people come together to celebrate not only the dolls and accessories, but also the history, imagination and love of reading that have always been at the heart of American Girl.
Thank you again to everyone who attended and helped make the day such a success. I am especially grateful to Eliza and the entire staff at Rust Library for their partnership and support. A special thank you also goes to our wonderful museum volunteer, Ashley, and to my husband, Alex, whose help and encouragement make these events possible.
We look forward to sharing more of the museum's collection with you soon. Keep an eye out for our next exhibit coming next month!