A Selection of Hallmark Ornaments: Connections to Our Collections

Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

This copy of the 1903 Wright Flyer faithfully replicates the original aircraft. On December 17, 2003, the replica attempted to duplicate the Wright brothers' first flight at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, exactly one hundred years after that historic feat. The attempt was foiled by bad weather, though the replica flew successfully in earlier tests.

Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

Carl Mayer, nephew of the company's namesake, created the first Oscar Mayer Wienermobile in 1936. In the years since, more than a dozen Wienermobiles have promoted the brand at stores, parades and festivals. Spokesman George Molchan, portraying the character "Little Oscar," traveled with the Wienermobile from 1951 to 1987. Today the vehicles are accompanied by college interns known as "Hotdoggers."

Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

Warner Bros. built this airplane for its 1957 movie The Spirit of St. Louis. The film's star, Jimmy Stewart, donated it to The Henry Ford in 1959. The replica is faithful to Charles Lindbergh's original with two exceptions. The replica's wingspan is shorter, and its cabin has two seats. On Lindbergh's plane, large fuel tanks left room for only one seat.

Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

Deere & Company released the streamlined Model B, styled by industrial designer, Henry Dreyfuss, in late 1938. Farmers used the four-gear forward tractor to pull a two-bottom plow, cultivate corn or soybeans, power a mounted corn picker, or run a corn sheller off the belt-drive. The rounded hood and grill and more expensive rubber-tire option meant the tractor looked as good as it performed.

Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

General Motors design head Bill Mitchell produced the Mako Shark Corvette in 1961, inspired by a shark he caught while fishing in the Bahamas. The concept car previewed elements later seen on the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray. This rendering is by Bill Porter, who joined GM as an intern in 1957 and retired as Buick's head of design in 1996.

General Motors design head Bill Mitchell caught a mako shark while vacationing in the Bahamas in 1961. Mitchell used this cast of that shark as inspiration for the 1961 Mako Shark concept Corvette. The Mako Shark was a hit with enthusiasts and car show audiences, and it previewed design elements that later appeared on the production 1963 Corvette Sting Ray.

Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

The 1965 Ford Mustang is one of the most significant vehicles built at Ford Motor Company's Rouge complex. With its sporty look, reasonable price and endless number of options, the car appealed to a wide cross-section of buyers. More than a million Mustangs were sold within two years of the car's April 1964 introduction.

Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

Many people call this toy a cement truck but it is actually a concrete transport truck. These trucks combined cement, aggregate (like sand or gravel), and water at the same time that they transported this mixture to the road construction site. The resulting concrete would stay in a liquid state through agitation, or turning of the drum, until delivery.

Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

Mattel's Barbie doll, introduced in 1959, was groundbreaking--a teenage fashion model, rather than a baby or companion doll. Barbie was a young adult, with long legs and an hourglass figure. She represented teenage freedom--and enjoyed a large, constantly-changing wardrobe of stylish clothing and coordinating accessories to go along with it. Barbie was an immediate--and lasting--hit with young girls.