History of Lego in Timeline
Lego is a line of interlocking plastic construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group in Denmark. Made primarily of ABS plastic, Lego bricks come in various colors and are designed to connect in numerous ways. These bricks can be combined with gears, minifigures, and other parts to create diverse models such as vehicles, buildings, and robots. Lego models can be disassembled, allowing the pieces to be reused for new creations. Lego's versatility and reusability have made it a globally popular toy.
1932: Ole Kirk Christiansen started making wooden toys
In 1932, Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter from Billund, Denmark, started making wooden toys, marking the beginning of what would become The Lego Group.
1934: The company came to be called "Lego"
In 1934, Christiansen's company came to be called "Lego", derived from the Danish phrase "leg godt", meaning "play well".
1936: Lego Group's motto created
In 1936, The Lego Group's motto, "only the best is good enough" was created by Ole Kirk Christiansen.
1939: Kiddicraft Self-Locking Bricks Invented
In 1939, Hilary Page invented the Kiddicraft Self-Locking Bricks, which served as inspiration for Lego's later interlocking bricks.
1940: Kiddicraft Self-Locking Bricks Patented
In 1940, Hilary Page patented the Kiddicraft Self-Locking Bricks in the United Kingdom.
1947: Lego expanded to begin producing plastic toys
In 1947, Lego expanded its production to include plastic toys, a significant shift from their earlier focus on wooden toys.
1949: Began producing "Automatic Binding Bricks"
In 1949, Lego began producing an early version of the interlocking bricks, calling them "Automatic Binding Bricks".
1949: Lego Group Began Manufacturing Interlocking Toy Bricks
In 1949, The Lego Group began manufacturing the interlocking toy bricks, which would later become the core product of the company.
1951: Plastic toys accounted for half of the company's output
By 1951, plastic toys accounted for half of the company's output, marking a significant shift from traditional wooden toys.
1954: Godtfred became the junior managing director
In 1954, Godtfred, Christiansen's son, became the junior managing director of the Lego Group. His conversation with an overseas buyer led to the idea of a toy system.
January 1958: Modern Brick Design Patented
On January 28, 1958, a patent application for the modern Lego brick design was filed in Denmark, a significant step in solidifying the interlocking system.
1958: Ole Kirk Christiansen Died
In 1958, Ole Kirk Christiansen died. He was born in 1891.
1958: Compatibility of lego bricks
Lego bricks from 1958 still interlock with those made presently, demonstrating the enduring compatibility of the Lego system.
1963: Lego pieces manufactured from ABS plastic
Since 1963, Lego pieces have been manufactured from ABS plastic, improving the durability and quality of the bricks.
1969: Duplo product line was introduced
In 1969, the Lego Group's Duplo product line was introduced, aimed towards younger children.
1973: Lego City introduced
In 1973, Lego City, a line of sets depicting city life, was introduced.
1977: Lego Technic introduced
In 1977, Lego Technic, a line aimed at emulating complex machinery, was introduced.
1978: First minifigures were produced
In 1978, Lego produced the first minifigures, which have since become a staple in most sets.
1978: Expiration of Last Significant Lego Brick Patent
In 1978, the last significant patent for Lego bricks expired, which allowed competitors to produce similar blocks that could connect with Lego bricks.
1984: First Lego Store Opens in Sydney
In 1984, the first official Lego store opened in Sydney, Australia, featuring iconic Australian displays. Known as The LEGO Centre, Birkenhead Point, it later closed in the early 1990s.
1993: Foundation of Kabooki
In 1993, Kabooki, a Danish company, was founded to produce children's clothes branded as "Lego Wear" under licence from the Lego Group.
1996: Launch of the Lego Website
In 1996, Lego launched its website, which has since expanded to include online store, product catalogue, and other services.
1997: Founding of Lego Media International Limited
In 1997, Lego expanded into the video game market by founding Lego Media International Limited, and released Lego Island by Mindscape.
1997: Lego pieces swept into the sea
In 1997, more than five million Lego pieces were swept into the sea off the coast of Cornwall, England, after a wave hit a cargo ship. These pieces have been washing up on shores for decades.
1998: Induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame
In 1998, Lego bricks were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York, recognizing their cultural significance and enduring appeal.
1999: Publication of The Ultimate Lego Book
In 1999, Dorling Kindersley (DK) published The Ultimate Lego Book, the first in a series of illustrated hardback books about Lego.
1999: Mindstorms Robotics Line Initiated
In 1999, Lego launched its 'Mindstorms' robotics line, which was based on a programmable brick developed at the MIT Media Lab. The name was inspired by Seymour Papert's work.
2000: Promotion of Lego Serious Play
Around 2000, the Lego Group began promoting "Lego Serious Play", a business consultancy method using Lego bricks to foster creative thinking and organizational development.
2001: Lego Website Message Boards Founded
In 2001, moderated message boards were founded on the Lego website.
2002: Lego Sues CoCo Toy Company
In 2002, Lego sued the CoCo Toy Company in Beijing for copyright infringement related to its "Coko bricks" product, leading to a ruling in Lego's favor.
2002: Online Instruction Booklets Available
Starting in 2002, the Lego website began providing instruction booklets for all Lego sets, enhancing user experience and accessibility.
2003: Release of Bionicle: Mask of Light
In 2003, the first official Lego film, Bionicle: Mask of Light, was released straight-to-DVD. It was developed by Creative Capers Entertainment and distributed by Miramax Home Entertainment.
2004: Lego Sues Best-Lock in Germany
In 2004, Lego initiated legal action against Best-Lock Construction Toys in German courts over trademark protection, though the outcome was unfavorable for Lego.
July 2005: Sale of Legoland Parks to Blackstone Group
On July 13, 2005, control of 70% of the Legoland parks was sold for $460 million to the Blackstone Group of New York, while the Lego Group retained the remaining 30%.
2005: Lego Sues Ritvik Holdings (Mega Bloks)
In 2005, The Lego Company sued Canadian company Ritvik Holdings Inc., the makers of Mega Bloks, for trademark violation. The Supreme Court of Canada upheld Ritvik Holdings Inc.'s rights to sell its product.
2006: Lego considered the world's number-one tyre manufacturer
According to an article in BusinessWeek in 2006, Lego could also be considered the world's number-one tyre manufacturer.
September 2008: Design teams use 3D modeling software
As of September 2008, Lego design teams use 3D modelling software to generate CAD drawings from initial design sketches.
September 2008: Lego engineers use NX CAD/CAM/CAE PLM software
As of September 2008, Lego engineers use the NX CAD/CAM/CAE PLM software suite to model the elements.
2009: Publication of The LEGO Book and Standing Small
In 2009, Dorling Kindersley (DK) produced The LEGO Book, which was sold with Standing Small: A celebration of 30 years of the LEGO minifigure, a smaller book focused on the minifigure.
2009: Launch of Lego Games Series
In 2009, Lego Games was launched, featuring Lego-themed board games designed by Cephas Howard and Reiner Knizia, where players build the playing board out of Lego bricks.
2009: End of Bionicle Comic Series
In 2009, the Bionicle comic series, written by Greg Farshtey and compiled into graphic novels by Papercutz, ended after nine years.
2009: German Court Denies Lego Trademark Protection
In 2009, the Federal Patent Court of Germany denied Lego trademark protection for the shape of its bricks in a case against Best-Lock Construction Toys.
February 2010: Release of Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers
In February 2010, Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers, a computer-animated film, was released on DVD, and was made by Tinseltown Toons.
2010: European Court Ruling on Lego Brick Design
In 2010, the European Court of Justice ruled that the eight-peg design of the original Lego brick performs a technical function and cannot be registered as a trademark.
January 2011: Premiere of Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu
In January 2011, the computer-generated animated series Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu began airing for the Lego Ninjago brand.
May 2011: Lego kits brought to International Space Station
In May 2011, Space Shuttle Endeavour mission STS-134 brought 13 Lego kits to the International Space Station, where astronauts built models to see how they would react in microgravity as part of the Lego Bricks in Space program.
2011: Discontinuation of Brickmaster Magazine
In 2011, Lego discontinued the Brickmaster magazine.
December 2012: Lego Brick Strength Tested
In December 2012, the BBC's More or Less program conducted a test to determine how many Lego bricks could be stacked before the bottom brick would collapse.
2012: Team GB Minifigures series released
For the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Lego released a special Team GB Minifigures series exclusively in the United Kingdom to mark the opening of the games.
2012: Lego reiterated number-one tyre manufacturer claim
In 2012, Lego reiterated its claim of being the world's number-one tyre manufacturer.
2012: Custom designs service ended
In 2012, The Lego Group ended the service to ship physical models from Digital Designer to consumers, recommending BrickLink Studio instead.
2012: Revised Edition of The LEGO Book Published
In 2012, a revised edition of The LEGO Book was published by Dorling Kindersley (DK).
May 2013: Largest model ever created was displayed
In May 2013, the largest Lego model ever created, a one-to-one scale model of a Star Wars X-wing fighter made of over 5 million bricks, was displayed in New York City.
June 2013: Warner Bros. Developing Lego Ninjago Movie
In June 2013, it was reported that Warner Bros. was developing a feature film adaptation of Lego Ninjago.
2013: Premiere of Legends of Chima TV Series
In 2013, the television series titled Legends of Chima began airing for the Legends of Chima brand.
2013: Opening of Legoland Discovery Centres in New York and Ontario
In 2013, two Legoland Discovery Centres opened: one at the Westchester Ridge Hill shopping complex in Yonkers, New York, and one at the Vaughan Mills in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada.
February 2014: Release of The Lego Movie
In February 2014, Warner Bros. released The Lego Movie, featuring Chris Pratt in the lead role and supporting characters voiced by Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Alison Brie, Will Ferrell and Nick Offerman.
2014: Lego Game based on The Lego Movie
In 2014, Lego created a game based on The Lego Movie, due to its popularity.
February 2015: Lego Ranked as the World's Most Powerful Brand
In February 2015, Brand Finance ranked Lego as the "world's most powerful brand", surpassing Ferrari.
July 2015: 600 Billion Lego Parts Produced
As of July 2015, Lego had produced 600 billion Lego parts, marking a significant milestone in the company's history.
December 2015: Premiere of Nexo Knights TV Series
In December 2015, a television series titled Nexo Knights made its debut for the Lego Nexo Knights brand.
2015: Closure of My Lego Network
My Lego Network, a social networking site featuring items, blueprints, ranks, badges and virtual trading, closed down in 2015.
2016: Rio Olympics Lego kits released
For the 2016 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Lego released a kit with the Olympic and Paralympic mascots Vinicius and Tom.
2016: Releases of Lego Bionicle and Lego Friends Films
In 2016, Lego Bionicle: The Journey To One was released for the Bionicle franchise and Lego Friends: The Power of Friendship for the Lego Friends brand.
February 2017: Release of The Lego Batman Movie
In February 2017, The Lego Batman Movie, a spin-off of The Lego Movie directed by Chris McKay, was released in the US.
September 2017: Release of The Lego Ninjago Movie
In September 2017, The Lego Ninjago Movie, a feature film adaptation of Lego Ninjago, was released.
2017: Release of Lego Elves: Secrets of Elvendale
In 2017, Lego Elves: Secrets of Elvendale was released for the Lego Elves brand.
2017: Redesigned Millennium Falcon retook the top spot
In 2017, a redesigned Millennium Falcon retook the top spot with 7,541 pieces.
2017: Release of Lego Life Magazine
The Lego Life Magazine was released in 2017 and serves as a replacement for the Lego Club Magazine.
2018: Lego announced it will be using bio-derived polyethylene
In 2018, Lego announced that it will be using bio-derived polyethylene to make its botanical elements.
2018: Lego set 2030 deadline to find eco-friendly alternative
In 2018, Lego set a self-imposed 2030 deadline to find a more eco-friendly alternative to ABS plastic. Lego also announced that it will be using bio-derived polyethylene to make its botanical elements.
February 2019: Release of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
In February 2019, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, a direct sequel to the original film starring Chris Pratt, was released.
June 2019: Premiere of Lego City Adventures
In June 2019, an animated series titled Lego City Adventures was released for the Lego City brand.
2019: FIRST LEGO League Challenge Teams
In the 2019-2020 season, there were 38,609 FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams around the world, showcasing the widespread participation in LEGO-based robotics competitions.
2020: Lego Announces Collaborations with Adidas and Levi's
In 2020, Lego announced collaborations with Adidas and Levi's to produce apparel, expanding its brand into fashion.
2020: Lego announced ceasing single-use plastic bags
In 2020, Lego announced that it would cease packaging its products in single-use plastic bags and would instead be using recyclable paper bags.
2020: Lego introduced sets aged at 18+
In 2020, Lego introduced sets aged at 18+, appealing to adult fans and coinciding with COVID-19 lockdowns.
2020: Cease and Desist Letters to Retailers and YouTubers
In 2020, Lego sent cease and desist letters to small toy retailers and popular YouTubers in Germany, raising concerns over intellectual property enforcement.
2020: FIRST LEGO League Explore Teams
In the 2019-2020 season, there were 21,703 FIRST LEGO League Explore teams around the world. These programs have offered real-world engineering challenges to participants using LEGO-based robots to complete tasks.
May 2021: Lego Announces Collaboration with Adidas for Lego Vidiyo Products
In May 2021, Lego announced collaborations with Adidas to produce products inspired by the Lego Vidiyo theme.
2021: Opening of Legoland Discovery Centre in New Jersey
In 2021, a Legoland Discovery Centre opened at the American Dream Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey, expanding the chain's presence in the United States.
2021: Release of Lego Monkie Kid Animated Series
In 2021, an animated series titled Lego Monkie Kid was released to support the Lego brand of the same name.
2021: Aim to produce bricks without using crude oil
In 2021, the company said it would aim to produce its bricks without using crude oil, by using recycled polyethylene terephthalate bottles.
2022: Mindstorms Discontinuation
In 2022, Lego discontinued its 'Mindstorms' robotics line after years of expansion and updates, marking the end of the product line.
2022: Lego introduced Eiffel Tower
In 2022, Lego introduced its Eiffel Tower set, consisting of 10,000 parts and reaching a height of 149 cm (60 in).
2022: Opening of Legoland Shanghai
In 2022, the tenth Legoland amusement park opened in Shanghai, China, expanding the brand's global presence.
April 2023: Lego Broke Ground on Its First US Manufacturing Facility
In April 2023, Lego broke ground on its first manufacturing facility in the United States, located near Richmond, Virginia.
2023: Lego reverses decision regarding using recycled plastic bottles
In 2023, Lego reversed its decision to produce its bricks without using crude oil because it did not reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
March 2024: Lego Store Operations
As of March 2024, Lego operates 1031 retail shops, called Lego Stores, globally. The world's largest Lego store is located in Leicester Square, London.
2024: Nearly 15% of released sets aimed at adult builders
By 2024, nearly 15% of the Lego sets released in the U.S. were specifically aimed at adult builders, demonstrating a significant shift in the target demographic.
2024: Announcement of Piece by Piece
On 27 January, 2024, it was announced that a new film, titled Piece by Piece, would be released on 11 October, 2024. It is a biographical film focusing on the life of singer Pharrell Williams.
2025: Lego carbon-neutral facility completed
In 2025, Lego's new carbon-neutral manufacturing facility is scheduled to be completed near Richmond, Virginia.
2030: Self-imposed deadline to find eco-friendly alternative
Lego set a self-imposed 2030 deadline to find a more eco-friendly alternative to ABS plastic.
