The top 20 toys of all time

These 20 timeless childhood toys, from Barbies to LEGOs, were chosen by visitors and fans at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis as the cream of the crop. Which toy took the top spot?

The world's largest Etch A Sketch is shown in Boston in this 2006 commercial file photo. Etch a Sketch made the list of the top 20 toys of all time, but it didn't snag the top spot.

Business Wire/File

By Brandon Ballenger, Contributor

September 30, 2012

What was your favorite toy from childhood?

If a Nintendo Entertainment System doesn’t count, I’d have to say LEGO or Lincoln Logs. I’d probably still play with them today if I had them around. And that’s just the kind of toy the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis was looking for when they chose the 100 most iconic toys of the past century – toys with memories, stories, and intergenerational appeal.

Here’s the Top 20, as chosen by museum visitors and fans. We added a few tidbits ourselves – like when they first became widely available (according to Wikipedia) and how much they cost today. For bonus nostalgia, click the toys’ names to watch their classic TV commercials.

In the race to attract students, historically Black colleges sprint out front

It’s worth noting there’s nothing more recent than 1984 at the top of the list, although new versions of many are still made today. And collector’s editions aside, they’re all pretty affordable today as well…

1. G.I. Joe

First widely available: 1964
Cost: From $4

2. Transformers

First widely available: 1984
Cost: From $2.50

3. LEGO Toys

First widely available: 1947
Cost: From 1 cent

4. Barbie

First widely available: 1959
Cost: From $9

5. View-Master

First widely available: 1966
Cost: From $7

6. Bicycle

First widely available: 19th century
Cost: From $40

7. Cabbage Patch Kids

First widely available: 1982
Cost: From $14

8. Crayons

First widely available: Crayola in 1903, but centuries ago
Cost: From $1.50

9. Play-Doh

First widely available: 1955
Cost: From 70 cents

10. MONOPOLY

First widely available: 1934
Cost: From $10

11. Raggedy Ann

First widely available: 1918
Cost: From $8

12. Spirograph

First widely available: 1965
Cost: From $15

13. Etch A Sketch

First widely available: 1960
Cost: From $9

14. Little Golden Books

First widely available: 1942
Cost: From $4

15. Hot Wheels

First widely available: 1968
Cost: From $5

16. Lincoln Logs

First widely available: 1918
Cost: From $14

17. Candy Land

First widely available: 1949
Cost: From $11

18. Roller skates

First widely available: 1863
Cost: From $15

19. Silly Putty

First widely available: 1949
Cost: From $3.50

20. Mr. Potato Head

First widely available: 1952
Cost: From $9

Brandon Ballenger is a writer for Money Talks News, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities and around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.