Home >> Toys >> Construction Toys

Lego Facts

The Lego company has been a staple of children's toys for over 75 years, and entire generations have grown up around its familiar fitted bricks. Lego toys are sold all over the globe, and the company estimates that some 5 billion hours a year are spent playing with them.

Beginnings
- The Lego company was founded in 1932 by father-and-son carpenters Ole Kirk and Godtfred Kirk Christiansen.
The Name
- The name "Lego" is a composite of the Danish words "leg godt," which means "play well."
Fittings
- The company's famous "stud-and-tube" fitting system was patented in 1958. It made Lego models extremely stable and served as the basis for later success.
Combinations
- Lego bricks are popular in part because they foster children's imaginations. The company estimates that just six rectangular eight-stud bricks can be put together in more than 100 million combinations.
Tie-ins
- Lego toys have featured tie-ins from a number of other products, including the Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Batman franchises.

Construction Toys