'Star Wars' figures, dominoes in Toy Hall of Fame

Officials at the Toy Hall of Fame say anyone can nominate a toy and thousands of suggestions come in every year. An internal committee of curators, educators and historians chooses the finalists and then a national selection committee votes for the winners.

To date, 49 toys have made the cut. They range from classics, like Play-Doh and Slinky, to the less obvious, like the stick and cardboard box.

Longevity is a key criterion for getting into the 14-year-old hall. Each toy must be widely recognized, foster learning, creativity or discovery through play, and endure in popularity over generations.

"Play is an essential activity, critical to learning and to human development," said Christopher Bensch, The Strong's vice president of collections. "Play is also a window into understanding American culture."

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Online:

http://www.toyhalloffame.org/