The Exciting History of Lego
At Bricks & Minifigs, we pride ourselves in sustaining the legacy of LEGO. Following the three Rs of revise, rebuild, and reimagine, we are Utah’s one-stop shop for new and used LEGO items. By helping you and your family rebuild the childhood sets you grew up with and giving you the chance to reimagine different sets, Bricks & Minifigs is dedicated to keeping the spirit of LEGO alive.
Origin
In 1932, a Danish carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen crafted wooden toys and later founded The Lego Group to distribute them. The name “LEGO” comes from the Danish phrase “leg godt” which means “play well”. 90 years later, we are still playing with Christiansen’s creation, though some modifications have been made to the product.
Transition to Plastic
LEGO created its first plastic brick in 1949. Nine years later, Godtfred Kirk, Christiansen’s son and the new head of the company, patented the plastic brick. Soon, the product evolved into the signature toy with interlocking technology that we all know and love today.
Becoming a Cultural Touchpoint
Billund, Denmark opened the first LEGOLAND theme park in 1968 after the bricks diffused across Europe rapidly rising in popularity. A decade later, the toy company introduced their classic Minifigures — the yellow people found LEGO’s playsets, theme parks, video games, and movies. At the turn of the century, the LEGO brand spun off into the video game industry by collaborating with famed properties such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Batman. The success of LEGO as a toy and crossover video game led to 2014’s Oscar-nominated The LEGO Movie.
LEGO-cy
The simplicity of LEGO bricks has been credited with the toy’s longevity, prevailing as a childhood staple for over a half-century. Being both child-friendly and intellectually stimulating for adults, LEGO was a member of 1998’s inaugural class of inductees to the United States National Toy Hall of Fame. Two years later, several publications named LEGO as the “Toy of the Century” as we entered the new millennium.
Over 20 years later, the impact of LEGO bricks and playsets remains unchanged. At Bricks & Minifigs, we buy and trade LEGO products to curate an inventory that helps you grow your personal collection. For more information on our selection of new and used LEGO items, contact us today!