LAC LA BICHE - The Lac La Biche Museum has welcomed a new exhibit this month that is a time capsule for some and a new adventure to experience for younger generations. The Remembering Classic Toys & Games exhibit opened on July 4, and includes dozens of vintage toys, model cars and games from the 1950-60s, says Jennifer Mueller, the Museum's director and manager.
“The exhibit explores the history of classic toys and games with the majority of the items on exhibit dating to the 1950s and 1960s. There are a variety of classic toys and games on exhibit such as tin toys, diecast toys, and early plastic toys just to name a few.”
The new display pays homage to toys and games that were popular and was representative of that era she says from the iconic View-Master, Jacks, Lego and more.
With a little history lesson for newbies and a reminder for some, there is still a lot to learn, she added. For, example one of the most famous toys that hit the market in the 1940s - the Slinky - was originally being invented as a military tool to secure equipment on US Navy ships, but soon became one of the best-selling toys for decades.
“The fascinating history of toys is explored where we have provided information about when a variety of toys were first made… or who invented them,” she said, describing the toys of the past as similar artifacts to other museum pieces and exhibits.
Time to create
The installation took over a year to create, and included time spent researching the eras, gathering all the games and toys from generous donations and loans from community members. The end result is an exhibit that is a fun, and an exciting trip down memory lane, said Mueller.
"This exhibit was fun to develop. I found myself reminiscing about some of the toys I played with as a kid. It was also a really interesting topic to research. We often don't realize how long some of these toys have been around for,” she said, hoping visitors to the museum from now until Sept. 30 will enjoy it.
The exhibit is one of the almost 20 temporary displays the museum curators create annually. The ability to revolve many of the displays keeps it interesting for visitors and allows for a lot of local history to be showcased.
“Temporary exhibit spaces allow museum staff to show a greater variety of items from our collections, covering a wide range of topics. With new exhibits being featured throughout the year, it keeps the museum dynamic and interesting since there is always something new to see,” said Mueller.
More to enjoy
The classic toy exhibit has had a warm welcome and positive comments from guests since it opened, said Mueller.
“It's been well received by visitors to the museum both adults and kids alike. Adults enjoy seeing and reminiscing about the toys they had as kids, while children enjoy seeing familiar favourites such as toy vehicles.”
While she hopes to see more people enjoy the exhibit and learn, Muller added the museum is still looking to grow the vintage collection.
“If you have antique or vintage toys you are interested in donating to the Lac La Biche Museum, please contact us at 780-623-1727 or send us an email at [email protected]."
The Lac La Biche Museum is located on the Lac La Biche Recreation Grounds along Main Street and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
