REVIEW: New Exhibit in Minnesota “Barbie: A Cultural Icon”

The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) is rolling out the pink carpet for "Barbie: A Cultural Icon" - a dazzling, museum-quality exhibition that celebrates the legacy of this beloved doll.

The exhibit opened this week and runs through September 22nd, located in the DECC's Paulucci Hall the exhibit features a look at the history of the Barbie brand, using 100s of authentic dolls from a private collection and from the Mattel Archives, the exhibit is an engaging tour of the not only the doll, but the people behind it, and the impact Barbie has had on worldwide culture.

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I got a chance to take my daughter and visit the exhibit in its opening days, and while I wasn't expecting much going in, I left with a greater understanding of the history of Barbie and I had a great time doing it.

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The first thing you'll notice is that Paulucci Hall got a bit of a makeover for Barbie's visit, the doors to the hall got a Barbie pink paint job and a Barbie inspired sign, the exhibit itself fills the entire space of the hall, but there is plenty of room to move freely around the hall without feeling claustrophobic.

The exhibit is set up in chronological order, so visitors can really get a sense on how much the doll's design and fashion has changed over the years, you'll get to see the very first Barbie doll all the way up to current dolls from the recent Barbie movie.

One of the highlights of the exhibit was the Life-size Barbie Ultravette, a mirror-pink Corvette that is available for attendees to sit it and take photos with. There are also several other great photo opportunities while walking around the exhibit, including some human-size Barbie and Ken boxes.

Another great feature of the exhibit was the replica TVs from different eras, showing a variety of Barbie TV ads from throughout the years. You can expect to spend maybe an hour or so checking everything out, I think if you are a fan of Barbie, this is a must-see exhibit, and even if you're not a fan, I think you'll have a good enough time to make it worth the price of admission.

If you want more information and get tickets, you can visit the DECC and lock down a date and time to see "Barbie: A Cultural Icon" before it moves on to the next city.