AMERICAN GIRL HISTORY
Learn about the history of American Girl
TIMELINE OF AMERICAN GIRL
EARLY 1980S
In the early 1980s, Pleasant Rowland started Pleasant Company. Rowland got the idea to start it by visiting Colonial Williamsburg. Rowland loved history and thought that people would like to learn history through publish books. To accompany these books, Rowland created dolls that inspire girls to learn, act out, and play in the past.
THE FIRST OFFICE
In 1985, Pleasant Company opened the first office in a warehouse on Blount Street in Madison, Wisconsin.
THE FIRST THREE DOLLS
In 1986, Pleasant Company came out with the three first dolls-Kirsten Larson, Samantha Parkington, and Molly McIntire. Even from the beginning, each doll came with a book and in an outfit called her meet outfit. A German dollmaker, Gotz, made the original American Girl face mold and the mold is still used today!
THE BENEFIT SALE
Since 1987, Madison Children Museum has hosted the Benefit Sale! The stock that is at the sale is either overstock or returned merchandise. All the money that is made at the sale goes to the Madison Children Museum and the American Girl's Funds for Children.
THE DOLL HOSPITAL
From an employee suggestion in 1988, Pleasant Company started doing the Doll Hospital. When things happen to your doll, the doll doctors at the Doll Hospital are ready to treat your doll! Currently, your doll will arrive home in a hospital gown, a certificate of good health, a get well soon card and an ID bracelet.
OUR NEW BABY
In 1990, Pleasant Company released Our New Baby.
AMERICAN GIRL MAGAZINE
In 1992, Pleasant Company started the American Girl Magazine. American Girl stopped releasing the magazine in 2019.
AMERICAN GIRL FASHION SHOW
In 1992, Pleasant Company started doing the American Girl Fashion Show. American Girl Fashion Shows were put on by different charities and non-profit organizations across the United States to raise money for children's causes. American Girl Fashion Shows stopped in 2016.
MISS AG BEAR
In 1994, Pleasant Company released Miss AG Bear.
BITTY BABY
In 1995, Pleasant Company re-released Our New Baby but called the line Bitty Baby. Bitty Baby is still the name of the line today.
AMERICAN GIRL OF TODAY
In 1995, Pleasant Company launched American Girl of Today. The line today is called Truly Me.
ADVICE BOOKS
In 1995, Pleasant Company launched advice books. American Girl still releases advice books today.
THE AMERICAN GIRL WEBSITE
In 1996, Pleasant Company launches the American Girl Website.
MATTEL BUYS
In 1998, Mattel brought Pleasant Company for 700 million dollars.
THE FIRST STORE
In 1998, Pleasant Company opens the 1st ever store at 111 East Chicago Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
RETIREMENT
In 2000, Pleasant Rowland officially retires.
MINI ROOMS
In 2000, Pleasant Company released Mini Rooms.
GIRL OF THE YEAR
In 2001, Pleasant Company launched Girl of the Year dolls.
HOPSCOTCH HILL DOLLS
In 2001, Pleasant Company released Hopscotch Hill dolls.
ANGELINA BALLERINA
In 2001, Pleasant Company started selling Angelina Ballerina products.
BITTY TWINS
In 2002, Pleasant Company released Bitty Twins.
GIRLS OF MANY LANDS
In 2002, Pleasant Company launched Girls of Many Lands.
THE FIRST MOVIE
In 2004, Pleasant Company came out with the first-ever Historical Character Movie, Samantha an American Girl Holiday.
FIRST BEST FRIEND DOLL
In 2004, Pleasant Company came out with Nellie O'Malley. This starts the Best Friends line.
FROM PC TO AG
In 2004, Mattel changed the company name from Pleasant Company to now being called American Girl.
FIRST GOTY MOVIE
In 2009, American Girl came out with the first-ever movie for the Girl of the Year Characters-Chrissa Stands Strong.
CANADA CATALOGS
In 2013, American Girl sent out the first-ever catalogs to customers in Canada.
AMERICAN GIRL TO CANADA
In 2014, American Girl products starts being sold at Chapters-Indigo stores in Canada for Canadian customers.
AMERICAN GIRL TO MEXICO
In 2015, American Girl opens American Girl boutiques in Mexico for customers.
WELLIEWISHERS
In 2016, American Girl launches WellieWishers!
AMERICAN GIRL TO TOYS R US, KOHL'S, TARGET & BARNES & NOBLE.
In 2016, American Girl partners up with Toy R Us, Kohl's, Target & Barnes Noble to sell American Girl dolls and products. Toys R Us sold WellieWishers at every US store and selected stores sold Truly Me dolls. Kohl's sold Tenney & Logan dolls and their collection and WellieWishers dolls with their collection. Tenney and Logan stopped being sold at Kohls in 2018, while the WellieWishers are still being sold at Kohl's stores today. Selected Target stores and Barnes & Noble stores sold WellieWishers products also in 2017.
AMERICAN GIRL POP UP HOLIDAY SHOPS
In 2016, American Girl started opening up Pop Up shops for the holiday season in select cities in the United States. American Girl also did this in 2017 and ended the pop-up shops in 2018.
CONTEMPORARY CHARACTERS
In 2017, American Girl launched Contemporary Characters!
FIRST 18 INCH BOY DOLL
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In 2017, American Girl came out the first ever 18-inch boy doll. Later, American Girl came out with a Truly Me Boy Line the same year.
PERMAPANTIES
In 2017, American Girl started to produce dolls with permanent underwear. With negative feedback from customers, American Girl changed back to normal regular underwear for dolls.
CREATE YOUR OWN
In 2017, American Girl Create Your Own Line!
AMERICAN GIRL TO THE MIDDLE EAST
In 2017, American Girl opens the first American Girl store in the Middle East in Dubai.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE AG DOLL
In 2019, American Girl partners with Swarovski and releases the $5,000 doll-the most expensive doll that American Girl has ever made. This doll is covered in more than 5,000 Swarovski crystals and beads. American Girl only made three of the $5,000 dolls and displayed one of each at their flagship stores for the 2019 holiday season.
ALL AMERICAN GIRL STORES CLOSE
For the first time in American Girl's History, American Girl closes all of its stores due to the coronavirus. American Girl announced its closing on March 15, 2020. American Girl started to reopen stores on May 18, 2020. However, some stores never reopened and remain permanently closed to this day.
COUTURE FOR A CAUSE
In 2020, American Girl partnered with Swarovski to make three one-of-a-kind dolls that was decked out in Swarovski crystals. Each doll was put up for auction and all the money benefited the First Responders Children's Foundation.
35TH ANNIVERSARY DOLLS
For American Girl's 35th anniversary, American Girl brought back the original six historical dolls for a limited time. Read more.
AMERICAN GIRL VACATIONS
In the Summer of 2021, American Girl started American Girl Vacations. Families can go to amazing places and enjoy awesome activities based on a certain character.
WORLD BY US
In 2021, American Girl launched World By Us!
AMERICAN GIRL TO NATIONAL TOY HALL OF FAME
In December of 2021, American Girl dolls got inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame for their unique ability to teach history in a new and exciting way.