Unplug for the Day With Toys of Yesteryear

In bygone days, holiday wish lists were simpler. There was no alphabet soup of Nintendo DSes or Xbox 360s. No plug and play. Not even batteries required. Back when Grandma -- or probably Great-Grandma -- was a child, there were dolls and teddy bears, rocking horses and toy soldiers. Playtime involved imagination and child-driven propulsion.

So before the kids finalize their gadget-filled lists, take them to the DAR Museum for a "Return to Toyland." The museum, run by the Daughters of the American Revolution, has put together a collection of toys and games from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The exhibit includes versions of items still available on toy store shelves.

Dolls and dollhouses, thought to be helpful in developing domestic skills, were among the most popular toys for girls a century ago. A wooden dollhouse just inside the exhibit entry looks both sturdy and decorative, with its bright red paint, white side porch and matching doghouse. This one-of-a-kind toy would not have been in most homes, but after mass-produced cardboard and wood models were introduced around 1900, miniature buildings of all kinds became affordable for many families. The exhibit includes a tiny store, a theater and even an outhouse.

The dolls in the collection range from simple wood or cloth varieties to bisque or porcelain creations with elaborate outfits and ringlet curls. Parents would have paid a hefty price for a fancy bisque doll, as most were imported from France or Germany.

Two kinds of toys that boys played with back then haven't lost their appeal: vehicles and military objects. The early toy vehicles were trains, but not long after full-size cars and airplanes were invented, toy versions became popular. The examples in the exhibit were made from such metals as cast iron that could handle rough play. Weaponry was made to last, too, with swords crafted out of wood and cannons made of iron.

One of the most interesting items in "Toyland" is a large elephant, a precursor to the molded plastic ride-on toys that toddlers love today. The older version, by teddy bear maker Steiff Co., is like ridable art, constructed of leather, felt and wood with metal wheels for rolling across the floor. Mercifully, the elephant also predates sound-effects buttons.

Although all the toys on exhibit are behind glass, the museum has included modern-day versions for hands-on fun. There's a dollhouse with furniture to arrange, a miniature circus and several games and puzzles to try.

The hands-on experience isn't limited to the "Toyland" exhibit, however. Ask a docent to show you the third floor, the permanent home for much of the toy collection, including two amazing dollhouses. But the highlight is the Touch of Independence Education Center.

Here children can learn about life in the 18th and early 19th centuries by playing such games as hopscotch or blindman's bluff. They can dress up in simple Colonial costumes or get an idea of what children learned in school and what chores they had to perform. It's not a large area, and the activities are self-guided, but there is plenty to engage a child for a half-hour.

The visit might also have a lasting effect. Perhaps children will reconnect with their imaginations and realize that toys don't need screens or buttons to be fun.

Return to Toyland Through Feb. 28 at the DAR Museum, 1776 D St. NW Info: 202-879-3241 or http://www.dar.org/museum Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Free