American Girl Doll Store
Bridgette: My American Girl
We visited the American Girl Doll Store in Dallas for the first time last weekend. In addition, we went to celebrate the safe end of another school year. We had a great time! Here are some pictures from our trip.
Kit Kittredge American Girl Doll
The American Girl Years Have Begun!
Bridgette has been watching a bunch of the American Girl movies including the ones about Samantha, Felicity, Molly and Kit. Soon, she’ll be reading the American Girl books. She’s been especially captivated by the story of Kit Kittredge and her best friend Ruthie. The story unfolds in Cincinnati during the Great Depression. It stars Julia Ormond, Chris O’Donnell, Abigail Breslin and Joan Cusack. A great film, it has been a wonderful learning experience for my kids. Also, it’s given me a chance to teach them the concept of generations. We’ve talked about the 15 generations that created the American Dream. I’ve told them about Generation X and their generation, Generation Z.
Bridgy had a hard time deciding which doll to get, but in the end, she picked Ruthie, Kit’s best friend.
My son Sullivan had a good time running up and down the escalators. He was a great sport about going to the store. The next day we took him to the Dallas Aquarium.
Picking Out an American Girl Doll
Here is Sullivan entertaining himself in Kaya’s Teepee. He’d be hard-pressed to admit it, but he likes the American Girl movies, too.
Kaya and Teepee[/caption]
Kaya, Nez Perce, 1764
This is Kaya in a jingle dress. This is very similar to the Native dress of the Chickasaw Indians in Oklahoma.
Jingle Dress, American Girl
The actual name of the store is the American Girl Boutique and Bistro. You can order lunch in the cafe or desserts at the ice cream counter. They have booster chairs for all the dolls.
American Girl Bistro, Dallas
Everything in the store is red and pink.
The hair salon was quite amusing.
American Girl Beauty Shop, Dallas
Julie Albright, 1970s
Julie Albright is the Generation X doll. Her story takes place in 1974. All the American Girl stories involve conflict and challenges. In the true spirit of Gen X, Julie’s primary challenge is her parents’ divorce.
Julie Albright,1970s American Girl
Last year, Amy Ziettlow wrote about Julie for The Atlantic. Prior to that, she was featured on the website Divorce 360. Both articles are great and worth a look.
The Generation X American Girl is dressed like a hippie. This is how little kids dressed in the 70s — just like the grown ups.
Julie Albright VW Bug 1970s American Girl
Julie Albright American Girl Doll Bed
As a kid growing up in the 70s, I loved bead curtains hung doorways. I love the attention to detail in American Girl dolls and accessories. All these small touches tell the stories of American generations.
1970s American Girl Doll Bed
Bicycle with Flower, Basket Julie Albright, American Girl
I had a flower basket just like this. My dad had about 10,000 of these tape recorders.
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Julie Albright’s Cassette Player
American Girl Books
My oldest daughter, Juliette, grew up with American Girls. She loved their books.
Bridgy is in gymnastics so she liked this doll, too.
Gymnast, American Girl
Girl with Glasses
Cheerleader Doll
American Girl Addy Doll
Addy’s story takes place in 1861. In the Summer of 1864, her family decides to try and escape slavery.
Shopping with Daddy at the American Girl Store
American Girl Doll Store
While we were in Dallas we stayed at the Anatole, which has an indoor pool. The American Girl Store is adjacent to the Galleria.
Ruthie American Girls
Playtime
When we got home to Oklahoma City, Bridgy stayed in her room and played with her Ruthie doll for hours. It was very sweet. I’m so grateful I was able to take her. I know there are a lot of girls who don’t get to go. And, there are girls all around the world who don’t live in even half as good as the dolls in the American Girl Store. By the way, to date, American Girl has donated nearly $100 million to date to charities nationwide.
I really love watching the American Girl movies with my kids. They’re wholesome and educational. I savor every moment we spend learning about the history of American girls. Bridgette was very moved by the story of Kit and the Great Depression. She’s been thinking a lot more about the value of a job and a dollar.
Bridgy with Ruthie | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Our trip to the American Girl store was magical. I encourage you to go if you get a chance. Childhood doesn’t wait. Also, you can find store locations and merchandise at the American Girl Doll Store online.
Generation X kids were around in the 1990’s.
That was not even a term back in the 1970’s.
I was Ten years old back in 1973 and many of the items made for the Julie doll were very real. I owned several of them.
Fashion and kids things were consider to be”mod” and not gen X. Please make those chances to you website for accuracy.
Thx, Tonya
Hi Tonya – Thanks for your comment. Here is an article with more explanations that might help shed some light on the term Generation X. It did not take flight until Douglas Coupland’s book, which came out in 1991. Nevertheless, the generation born roughly between 1961 and 1981 was eventually called Generation X. Prior to that they were referred to as Baby Busters or Post Boomers, but those terms never stuck like Gen X. https://www.jenx67.com/who-is-generation-x
Can you imagine if they had had Cabbage Patch Kids stores like this?! My parents would have probably gone bonkers! As a child of the 70’s I can say I definitely loved beaded curtains and I totally had a white basket with flowers on my purple bike! Having nieces that are passed the American Girl age, I never experienced this phenomena, I find it fascinating.
This made me all kinds of nostalgic for the time when I would curl up with one of Addy’s books. I specifically chose her because, at the time, she was the only non-white doll. Now I hear there’s a Mexican doll named Josefina, which is pretty awesome.
I remember really wanting the dolls, but not becoming aware of them until I was almost in middle school. My parents said they weren’t going to get me one because I wouldn’t get enough play out of it since I was almost too old. They were right. About three weeks later I shelved my Addy books for good and hung up magazine clippings of Leonardo DiCaprio.