Classic Toys On Exhibit In Sand Springs

NewsOn6.com

SAND SPRINGS, OK -- Remember the joy of opening that special toy under the Christmas tree? Most adults can vividly remember their favorites – and those childhood days can be relived at a new Sand Springs Museum toy exhibit.

The Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum is giving patrons a ride in that time machine with its new exhibit: "Toy Classics." The exhibit features a variety of original and reproduction toys which were popular with children born between 1945 and 1980.

Special toys highlighted include Mattel's Barbie, Hasbro's G.I. Joe, and Johnny West by Marx. Classic playsets such as the Marx Civil War set "Blue and the Gray," and the 1950s television inspired "Super Circus" are also included.

Disney figures, super heroes, toy automobiles, ships and planes, dolls and doll houses, space ships and much more are also featured.

The exhibit combines the bounty from six peoples' collections, according to exhibit coordinator Rodney Echohawk. Echohawk, an avid toy collector, is well known in the community as the sports writer and photographer for the Sand Springs Leader.

"We hope the exhibit will appeal to men and women and boys and girls of all ages. We wanted to tie 'Toy Classics' into the holiday season. And we may have some other retro items on display to match the time of year," Echohawk said

Echohawk contributed some of the rare toys from his collection, and said his sister also contributed to the exhibit.

"I think it's kind of a neat thing for Christmastime," he said.

"Toys have been around since ancient Egypt and are found in every country and era," Echohawk said.

"While most people would agree toys are playthings meant to be fun, they are really much more. Toys have been used to develop a child's motor skills and recognition and to promote creativity."

Toys of the Baby Boomer era were used to instill cultural roles, he said, with Tinker Toys for budding architects and toy ovens for homemakers to be.

"Today's toys are more of the electronic, virtual kind. So for many youngsters the exhibit might give them a glimpse at toys they never knew existed," Echohawk said.

The whole family can enjoy the Classic Toy Exhibit at the Sand Springs Museum, 9 E. Broadway St. in the heart of downtown Sand Springs.

Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information call (918) 246-2509.