At age 7, I bought my first American Girl books at the 2001 Scholastic Book Fair: Meet Josefina and Josefina Learns a Lesson. Josefina Montoya, a Mexican American immigrant like my dad, became my gateway to both reading and American history.
The American Girls – 10-year-old Josefina, Kaya, Felicity Merriman, Kirsten Larson, Addy Walker, Samantha Parkington, Molly McIntire, and Kit Kittredge – made history more than just dates and a linear timeline to an entire generation. The dolls, with their fascinating backstories and accessories, brought aspects of American history to life for a whole generation of girls outside the classroom. As adults, some of the history lessons we remember best came from American Girl.
As the nation reflects on 250 years of its history, American Girl reminds us that understanding who we are as a nation begins not in textbooks, but through the personal stories of our shared history. Josefina opened the door for a little girl like me to discover the past, shaping the path that eventually led me to the Bush Center.
I learned about colonial times and America’s founding through a spunky redhead named Felicity Merriman. I remember the Swedish Christmas tradition of St. Lucia’s Eve because of 10-year-old Kirsten Larson. I learned about courage through Addy Walker, who was born into slavery on a plantation and longed to be free during the Civil War. I knew the United States went through an Edwardian era because of Samantha Parkington (whose backstory included being an orphan). And, just this year, we found out that Samantha became the great-great-grandmother to Raquel Reyes, Girl of the Year 2026.
I learned about patriotism and the American spirit through Molly McIntire, who grew up during World War II and supported her country on the homefront. Kit Kittredge taught me what life was like for a 10-year-old girl in the United States during the Great Depression. Kaya, later introduced as the first Native American doll, offered a glimpse at life before Felicity’s family arrived and the United States became established.
Though the stories often tackled heavy topics, the American Girls showed bravery, courage, friendship, hardship, and joy at an age-appropriate level. And though I grew up and am now very much an adult, these girls stayed 10, ready to teach the next generation of girls about American history and the timeless values of loyalty, courage, and friendship.
The girls taught us about American life, but I also saw parts of myself in them.
While I picked Josefina at the book fair because she resembled my dad’s family, Kirsten, who came from Sweden, looked just like my mom, an immigrant from Poland. Molly McIntire wore glasses, and I hated my glasses, yet she taught me to embrace them.
As I grew up, I left my three dolls (Kirsten, Kaya, and Molly) behind, keeping them to share one day with my own children. Because American Girl is more than just a doll to kids who have grown up alongside them – it is a source of identity, inspiration, and lifelong memories, connecting generations through American history and the stories we share.
They also showcase the importance of storytelling to teaching future generations about our nation and our history.
As the United States marks 250 years, stories like those told by American Girl ensure that the values at the heart of our democracy continue to be passed from one generation to the next.
Happy birthday, America. And Happy Birthday, American Girl. And to many more years.
