TIMELINE OF AMERICAN GIRL
EARLY 1980S
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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
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In 1985, Pleasant Company opened the first office in a warehouse on Blount Street in Madison, Wisconsin.
THE FIRST THREE DOLLS
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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
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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
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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
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In 1990, Pleasant Company released Our New Baby.
AMERICAN GIRL MAGAZINE
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In 1992, Pleasant Company started the American Girl Magazine. American Girl stopped releasing the magazine in 2019.
AMERICAN GIRL FASHION SHOW
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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
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In 1994, Pleasant Company released Miss AG Bear.
BITTY BABY
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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
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In 1995, Pleasant Company launched American Girl of Today. The line today is called Truly Me.
ADVICE BOOKS
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In 1995, Pleasant Company launched advice books. American Girl still releases advice books today.
THE AMERICAN GIRL WEBSITE
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In 1996, Pleasant Company launches the American Girl Website.
MATTEL BUYS
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In 1998, Mattel brought Pleasant Company for 700 million dollars.
THE FIRST STORE
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In 1998, Pleasant Company opens the 1st ever store at 111 East Chicago Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
RETIREMENT
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In 2000, Pleasant Rowland officially retires.
MINI ROOMS
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In 2000, Pleasant Company released Mini Rooms.
ANGELINA BALLERINA
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In 2001, Pleasant Company started selling Angelina Ballerina products.
BITTY TWINS
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In 2002, Pleasant Company released Bitty Twins.
THE FIRST MOVIE
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In 2004, Pleasant Company came out with the first-ever Historical Character Movie, Samantha an American Girl Holiday.
FIRST BEST FRIEND DOLL
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In 2004, Pleasant Company came out with Nellie O'Malley. This starts the Best Friends line.
FROM PC TO AG
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In 2004, Mattel changed the company name from Pleasant Company to now being called American Girl.
FIRST GOTY MOVIE
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In 2009, American Girl came out with the first-ever movie for the Girl of the Year Characters-Chrissa Stands Strong.
CANADA CATALOGS
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In 2013, American Girl sent out the first-ever catalogs to customers in Canada.
AMERICAN GIRL TO CANADA
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In 2014, American Girl products starts being sold at Chapters-Indigo stores in Canada for Canadian customers.
AMERICAN GIRL TO MEXICO
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In 2015, American Girl opens American Girl boutiques in Mexico for customers.
WELLIEWISHERS
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In 2016, American Girl launches WellieWishers!
AMERICAN GIRL TO TOYS R US, KOHL'S, TARGET & BARNES & NOBLE.
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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
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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.
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
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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
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In 2017, American Girl Create Your Own Line!
AMERICAN GIRL TO THE MIDDLE EAST
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In 2017, American Girl opens the first American Girl store in the Middle East in Dubai.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE AG DOLL
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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
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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
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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
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For American Girl's 35th anniversary, American Girl brought back the original six historical dolls for a limited time. Read more.
AMERICAN GIRL VACATIONS
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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.
AMERICAN GIRL TO NATIONAL TOY HALL OF FAME
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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.