Barbie: A Cultural Icon, a new exhibit at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, is bringing more than six decades of fashion, culture and nostalgia to Richmond — with a special spotlight on six specific Barbies connected to the commonwealth.
The traveling exhibit traces Barbie’s evolution from her 1959 debut to the present day, giving visitors a closer look at how the famous doll came to life and has remained relevant for roughly seven decades.
Associate Curator Elizabeth Klaczynski said the Barbie dolls on display also reflect the changes in opportunities for women over the last 67 years.
“Barbie has now had over 250 careers. She’s been president seven times,” Klaczynski said. “One of the things I think that is most special about this exhibit is you can see, decade by decade, how Barbie’s evolution has really reflected the changing roles of women in American society.”
Klaczynski added that the exhibition also places an emphasis on diversity and inclusion: “Barbie started off with a sort of very singular identity, and now she has over 35 skin tones, multiple different body types, different hairstyles, different levels of ability.”
Flipping through the doll catalog in preparation for the exhibit, Klaczynski said she was both surprised and delighted to discover Barbie had six Virginia-inspired dolls, which now make up the “Virginia is for Barbie” collection.
The six featured dolls represent notable Virginians, each paired with an object connected to its real-life inspiration:
- President George Washington, who was born in Westmoreland County, raised in Stafford County and lived at Mount Vernon
- jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, who was born in Newport News
- mathematician Katherine Johnson, who lived in Newport News and worked in Hampton at the agency that later became NASA
- Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, who was born in Newport News and grew up in Virginia Beach
- cheerleaders from both the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech
“We have shoe buckles that we borrowed from Mount Vernon that George Washington owned,” Klaczynski said. “We have a leotard signed by Gabby Douglas and her teammates. So, just making those connections real and tangible.”
The entire exhibit features more than 250 vintage dolls as well as fashionable ensembles, advertisements and historical memorabilia. Visitors can also explore a re-creation of the original renderings of Barbie’s Dreamhouse or pose inside an oversized Barbie box.
VMHC plans to keep the six Virginia-inspired Barbies on display after the exhibit closes on Jan. 18, 2027.
Museum admissionis $15; free for VMHC members, student groups and EBT/SNAP cardholders.
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