History of American Girl Dolls
Pleasant T. Rowland was the creator of American Girl Dolls. She wanted to buy dolls for her nieces but none of the dolls appealed to Pleasant, so she decided to make some of her own. Pleasant felt that Barbies would make young girls want to be teenagers and Cabbage Patch kids were about motherhood, she wanted dolls that were a girls best friend and were about the same age as the girls that played with them.
Pleasant designed the first doll when she was on vacation in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1989. Williamsburg is a historic village, and while Pleasant was there, she got the idea to create a historical doll, which would also teach young girls about history. The first three dolls were Samantha, Molly and Kirsten. Samantha lives in New York City in 1904, she is a wealthy orphan who lives with her grandmother and helps servant girls. Molly’s story is set in Illinois, in 1934 through her story girls learn about life during World War ll. Kirsten lives in Minnesota, in 1856, she is an immigrant and through her story girls learn about immigrant life in the 1800s.
The dolls are designed and made in Germany, like the Goetz Dolls. In 1991-2002, Felicity, Addy, Josephina, Kit and Kaya were made. Felicity’s story takes place in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1774 Addy is a slave who lives in Philadelphia and girls learn about life as a slave ,Josephina is mexican girl, she lives in New Mexico and through her story girls learn about the Mexican rule. Kit’s story takes place in Cincinnati and 1932, her story teaches girls about the Great Depression, Kaya is a Native American Indian who lives in the Pacific Northwest in 1764 and through her story girls learn about Native American life.
In 1995 Just Like You dolls were created and they can be customized to look like the girl who adopts them.
The first American Girl place was opened in Chicago in 1990. At the American Girl Place you can buy anything from dolls to doll clothes even matching clothes to match your doll.There is also an American Girl Place in New York City and Los Angeles, California. Kids love the place because they know they are going to get a new friend and because it makes them feel special.
Every year American Girl comes out with a limited edition Girl of the Year. The Girl of the Years were: Lindsey, Kailey, Marisol, Jess, Nicki, Mia, Chrissa, Lanie, Kanani, Mckenna and Saige. Each of these girls is a role model and has a book to go with her.
