Come on Barbie, let’s go party: A new “Barbie” experience is coming to The Strong National Museum of Play in Upstate New York.
“Barbie You Can Be Anything: The Experience” will be on display at the Strong museum in Rochester, N.Y., from Jan. 20 to May 12, 2024. The interactive exhibit aims to encourage kids to follow their dreams and learn about real-life role models, like aviation pioneer Amelia Earthart, NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale and jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald.
The fun will include taking pictures inside a Barbie box, typing your name and choosing a career for a customized photo opportunity. Other interactive areas include:
- “I Am an Adventurer”: Imagine yourself as a surfer, climb like a rock climber, and experience the adventure of roaming the jungle as a wildlife photographer.
- “I Am a Leader”: Step into the role of president and deliver an important speech, jump into the cockpit as a pilot, and direct your own “film” with dolls.
- “I Am a Creator”: Customize digital clothing as a fashion designer, experiment as a chef, and be an artist by drawing on a touchscreen.
- “I Am a Nurturer”: Take on the role of a farm veterinarian, care for a beehive, and become a doctor taking care of doll patients.
- “I Am a Problem Solver”: Solve a puzzle like a robot coder, examine an ancient vase like an archaeologist, and fix a broken fence like a builder.
According to a press release, Barbie has had more than 200 jobs over the last 60 years and recently expanded to a Fashionista line celebrating diversity and inclusion. Barbie dolls feature a variety of skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities, and fashions; figures can include hearing aids, Down syndrome, prosthetic legs, or vitiligo, a skin condition that causes a loss of pigment cells.
Barbie merchandise is displayed at a Macy's store on July 25, 2023 in Corte Madera, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Getty Images
The brand has seen a surge in popularity thanks to the “Barbie” movie released last year, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. The film grossed $1.4 billion at the global box office and featured a wide variety of Barbie characters, including President Barbie (Issa Rae), Mermaid Barbie (Dua Lipa), Writer Barbie (Alexandra Shipp), Dr. Barbie (Hari Nef) and Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon).
It still wasn’t enough (or “Kenough”) to get Ken inducted in the Strong Museum’s Toy Hall of Fame, though. Barbie, on the other hand, was part of the Hall’s inaugural class in 1998.
The “Barbie You Can Be Anything” exhibit was produced by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in partnership with Mattel. For more information, visit museumofplay.org.