Most little girls have had a Raggedy Ann or a Raggedy Andy doll somewhere throughout their lives. Some were even lucky enough to have both of them! And some years back, there was even a special Saturday cartoon called the Adventures of Raggedy Ann and Andy. But according to history, the creator of this precious little doll, Johnny Gruelle, was born in the small town of Arcola, IL.
These days tourist can experience the history and the art of Raggedy Ann and Andy at the museum located on Main Street in Arcola. The museum was opened in May of 1999. The mission of this museum is to preserve the life and times of the man who created the storybook characters. This unique and artistic museum is the only Raggedy Ann and Andy museum in the entire world! Visitors can find out the history and past of Johnny Gruelle. They may learn that he was born in 1880 in Arcola, and that by the time Johnny was a teenager, he was known as a talented cartoonist. Johnny didn’t spend all of his time in Arcola though. He moved to Indianapolis at the age of two, and also train-hopped to several places like Cleveland, Ohio to pursue his love of art and story telling. It wasn’t until the year 1915 that he trademarked his design for Raggedy Ann. Gruelle then begin thinking of book ideas of this character and soon was published in 1918 with Volland Company, which was a children’s publisher. They published his title that was called “Gruelle’s Raggedy Ann Stories“ which came with a special matching doll.
Arcola, IL takes great pride in being the birth town of dear Johnny Gruelle. He was the inspiration to children all over the world with the adventures and stories of that unique little doll whom we all know as Raggedy Ann. At the Raggedy Ann and Andy museum, visitors can look at the different sides of Johnny Gruelle such as “Marcella’s Room,” and “The Deep Deep Woods,” which are all fictional places that Raggedy Ann and Andy go.
When you browse amongst the walls of the museum you can see all of the advertisement through the years that used Raggedy Ann and Andy as part of their campaigns. You can also take a look at the assortment of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls from Japan as well. Not only will you get a chance to see Raggedy Ann and Andy as part of an American culture, but you can also see another country’s point of view of this fictional character doll as well.
For those who would like to take a piece of this Raggedy Ann and Andy history home with them, the museum also hosts a gift shop where you can purchase books and dolls too. You can buy the doll sets, puppets, musical rocker chairs with Raggedy Ann, and even a cute little Raggedy Ann and Andy glass tea set too. Don’t forget to select a unique story to take home to the children so that you can spread the history of this unforgettable character that has touched all of us in some small way. If you feel that you would like to take trip down memory lane with Johnny Gruelle, or experience the wonder of childhood with Raggedy Ann and Andy, the museum’s website also has directions that will assist you in getting there. This is one special place that you wouldn’t want to miss, and don’t forget that it is the only existing one in the world!
