FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 3, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@cincymuseum.org
Barbie brings 250 dolls and generations of memories to Cincinnati
Barbie™: A Cultural Icon opens Friday at Cincinnati Museum Center
CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Museum Center is unboxing its newest featured exhibition.
Barbie™: A Cultural Icon celebrates 66 years of fashion and inspiration, showcasing how Barbie is more than just a doll, she is a cultural icon. Step back into your childhood and embark on a six-decade evolution and the making of a global phenomenon. Barbie™: A Cultural Icon opens Friday at Cincinnati Museum Center.
EXHIBITION PHOTOS
Today, Barbie® is the most diverse doll line on the market, inspiring girls to imagine everything they can become. A role model, a muse, a best friend – Barbie means something to everyone. Barbie™: A Cultural Icon celebrates Barbie as a reflection of culture, featuring a collection of over 300 artifacts from the 66-year history of Barbie. The exhibition is filled with photo ops and shareable moments throughout, plus an original Barbie DreamHouse™, behind-the-scenes prototypes and some of the most famous Barbie dolls throughout history.
“Barbie has defined childhoods for generations, but she’s larger than a childhood,” said Elizabeth Pierce, president & CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “She represented you and everything you could be. That’s why we’re excited to bring Barbie™: A Cultural Icon to Cincinnati, so we can remind everyone, including Kens, of just how much Barbie has shown us is possible.”
Through the exhibition, you are challenged to rethink what you knew about Barbie and reflect on how society has evolved with each generation. Among the artifacts included are more than 250 vintage dolls and life-sized fashion pieces that come to life through custom-themed displays. Video and media interviews with Barbie designers expand the narrative. Barbie dolls featured from the collections of David Porcello, a private collector, and Mattel will be on display.
“Barbie has an amazing and inspiring history. There is a real sense of nostalgia when you see what was happening in the world, and in her universe, when you were a kid – and then follow the story to how she’s impacting our society today,” said Tim Clothier, CEO of Illusion Projects Inc.
For those looking for the full Barbie experience, Barbie Dream Packages are available, featuring a Premium Ticket (with same-day anytime entry and reentry) plus Barbie sunglasses and a Malibu keychain.
Barbie™: A Cultural Icon is open through September 1 at Cincinnati Museum Center. Tickets and Barbie Dream Packages are available at cincymuseum.org/barbie.
Barbie™: A Cultural Icon is produced by Illusion Projects Inc. in collaboration with leading global toy company Mattel®.
