Making History Blog
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Mrs. Bard’s Spoon
On the morning of April 13, 1758, the home of Richard and Catharine Bard, in present-day Adams County, Pa., was attacked by a party of 19 Delaware Indians. In the…
Pennsylvania Political Ephemera Through the Years
See more political ephemera that documents more than 200 years of state and national politics here: Krasik Collection of Pennsylvania & Presidential Political Memorabilia. In national election years, we see…
The Slinky – “A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing!”
During the height of World War II, a U.S. Naval engineer accidentally invented one of the world’s most popular and celebrated toys. In 1943, Richard T. James, a 1939 graduate…
5 Toys From Your Childhood That You Might Not Remember
“Lady Lionel” train set In the early 1950s, the Lionel Company had its best years of sales, but by the decade’s end, the company struggled to stay relevant. They produced…
“Sandy Andy” & “Sunny Suzy” from the Wolverine Toy Company
Close up of a Wolverine Toy Company toy on display in the Toys of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s exhibition. The Wolverine Supply and Manufacturing Company, later known as the…
Of Bells and Fire: Artifacts Recall April 10, 1845
The old city hall bell as it now hangs in the Senator John Heinz History Center. Made by A. Fulton & Sons in 1866, the bell hung in Pittsburgh’s city…
Doll or “Action Figure”
With the success of Barbie for Mattel in the early 1960s, the Hasbro Company saw an opportunity to break into an untapped market – dolls for boys. The only problem…
Mr. Potato Head Funny-Face Kit
This Mr. Potato Head kit belonged to George Lerner, who invented the popular toy. Lerner had trouble interesting toy companies in his invention in the late 1940s as war rationing…
Tools of Oppression: Cotton Cards
Mary Ann Carlton (1839-1921), a former slave, used cotton cards to contribute to the sharecropping of her family. In the late 18th century, American citizens knew that the road to…
What Your Donation Supported at the History Center in 2015
Are you considering making a year-end donation to the Senator John Heinz History Center or have you supported us throughout the year? Thank you! Donors like YOU make it possible…