The Danish words meaning “play well” are “leg godt,” which is where the name Lego derives from. In Latin, lego means “to gather” or “put together.” Ole Kirk Kristiansen founded
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The Danish words meaning “play well” are “leg godt,” which is where the name Lego derives from. In Latin, lego means “to gather” or “put together.” Ole Kirk Kristiansen founded LEGO in 1932.
Kristiansen was a carpenter who purchased Billund Maskinsnedkeri, a woodworking and carpentry shop, in 1916. Unfortunately, by 1932, business was not going well, and Kristiansen had to close shop.
After losing his wife and needing to care for his four boys, desperation forced him to figure out a way to make money. He began making toys. More trials and tribulations ensued, including a fire in 1942 that destroyed his new toy-making business.
Inspired by his sons and his workers, Kristiansen built another factory. With a shortage of raw materials after World War II, Kristiansen turned to plastic. In 1947, he invested in an injection molding machine.
With the help of one of his sons, Godtfred Kristiansen, the LEGO building blocks came to fruition. Gradually, the wooden toys became nonexistent, and what we know today as LEGOS became the company’s focus.
The LEGO company’s success surpassed anything imaginable, inspiring the Kristiansen family to build an airport as a way to distribute Legos across the globe. Shortly after, the LEGO theme park, LEGOLAND, was created, receiving over 600,000 visitors in its first year.
Legos have been used as an educational resource in classrooms since the 1960s. Playing with Legos helps children develop multiple skills, including hand-eye coordination and training two hands to work together, and it triggers the use of the imagination.
The Gilpin County Library knows the value of playing with Legos and offers a free build program for residents and visitors. If you missed the last one, join them on Friday, October 27, 2023, from 1 to 4 p.m. in an afternoon full of endless creative possibilities.
Following Free Build Friday is movie night, where creative minds can enjoy roughly 90 minutes of a family-friendly movie that continues to stimulate their minds and imaginations.
The Gilpin County Library is located at 15131 Highway 119, Black Hawk. You can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GilpinCountyPublicLibrary/ or you can give them a call at 303-582-5777.
