Philadelphia celebrates the Slinky, a Pennsylvania invention that became a cultural icon

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A toy that has traveled down millions of staircases and become a fixture of American childhood is being celebrated in Philadelphia, where the Slinky was first developed and introduced to the public.

The city is marking the legacy of the spring-shaped toy as part of its "52 Weeks of Firsts" during America 250.

Festivities are scheduled for Aug. 29 and 30, with events highlighting the toy's Pennsylvania roots and lasting cultural impact.

"Dad invented the Slinky in Philadelphia," said Rebekah James Morris, daughter of Slinky inventor Richard James. "In 1945, he finalized the production and started, but nobody knew what it was because it doesn't look like anything. So he went to Gimbels in downtown Philly and had a display and a counter to show how it worked."

The demonstration proved successful, according to Christopher James, Morris' brother.

"Well, they had brought 400 Slinkies, and within an hour they had sold all 400, a dollar a piece back then. So, it was at that point they thought, 'Yeah, we may have something here,'" James said.

Richard James invented the Slinky, while his wife, Betty James, helped turn it into one of the most popular toys of the 20th century, according to their children.

Today, it is manufactured in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.

Morris and James said a museum dedicated to the Slinky is scheduled to open there next month.

The city's celebration will recognize the toy's place in American culture and its connection to Philadelphia. Organizers also note that the Slinky inspired scientific study beyond its role as a children's toy.

Festivities will begin at the American Philosophical Society, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743, as a center for the advancement of useful knowledge. The celebration aims to honor a Pennsylvania invention that has entertained generations and remains one of the nation's most recognizable toys.