Richmond’s Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) is hosting a special exhibit dedicated to Barbie. Barbie: A Cultural Icon will be on view from October 17 through January 18, 2027.
The exhibit spans Barbie’s debut in 1959 through today. It “traces how one small toy became culturally defining — reflecting changing fashion, shifting expectations, and evolving ideas about what girls and women can be,” VMHC said in a release.
VMHC is curating a selection of Barbies related to the Commonwealth’s history. Each of the six Virginian Barbies — George Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Katherine Johnson, Gabby Douglas, a UVA Cheerleader, and a Virginia Tech Cheerleader — “will be displayed with an object associated with the real historic figure or cultural icon,” the museum says.
The Barbie exhibit is designed for visitors of all ages. It will include multiple themed sections and fashion displays with more than 250 vintage dolls. Guests can also take selfies with a recreation of the classic Barbie Dreamhouse, an oversize “Barbie Box,” and a full-size 1984 Corvette in signature mirror-pink styling. 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond
Feature photo by Airi Katsuta/Courtesy Illusion Projects
