Little Binnie was all set on her little bed, eagerly waiting for her dad to knock at the door. It was half-past nine, and as the tiny clock kept ticking on her study table, Binnie’s excitement grew, her lips trembling with eager anticipation. Her dad would arrive any minute now. Finally, she heard it.
“Little Binnie, are you up for a story?”
She sat up straight, eyes wide with rapt attention. Oh, how she waits for these stories every night from her dad!
“What story would it be tonight dad?”
“Well, today, I’ll tell you about LEGO.”
“LEGO? The little building blocks I play with every day?”
“Yes, Bennie, that’s right. LEGO has a wonderful history. Did you know that the name is older than these plastic bricks?”
First version LEGO wooden duck
It started way back in 1932 when a skilled and hardworking carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen came up with a unique idea. Living in Billund, a little town in Denmark along with his four sons, Ole made tiny little toys for his sons. These little toys would range from wooden ducks, cars, walking puppies to yo-yos. Looking at their joy, Ole soon started selling his toys to nearby shops. But there was a problem with that!
Although Ole was a great craftsman, who had an eye for detailing, he was bad at marketing his toys. One of his sons, Godtfred, started helping him and together, they managed to keep up with their growing business.
Time passed by, and Ole wanted to coin a perfect name for his toy company. He took inspiration from the phrase “leg godt,” which in Danish means ‘play well’. But Ole was looking for a shorter name, which would be easy for everyone to remember. He finally named his company ‘LEGO’, an abbreviation for ‘Leg Godt’.
One stormy night, a fire broke in their storehouse, destroying all the toys, artworks and designs. This made Ole very sad, as he helplessly saw all his hard work reduce into ashes in seconds. He almost lost his company, but he never lost hope. Soon, along with Godtfred, they built a new factory, much bigger and stronger than the previous one. Slowly and steadily, the company began to run smoothly, and both Ole and his son began to look for new challenges for their wooden toys.
A walk to a machine demonstration in Copenhagen introduced Ole to the plastic injection moulds for toy making. He saw this as a great opportunity for the LEGO Group and purchased the moulding machine. Soon, he started moulding teddy bears and other toys. By 1949, his company launched its first building set – Automatic Binding Bricks.
The famous three-generation picture of Ole Kirk Christiansen, his son Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, and his grandson Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen
By now, LEGO was already a household name. But Godtfred had bigger plans. He felt LEGO needed a system that would encourage children to think creatively, build their imagination, and prepare them for life. The following year, the company launched its now world-famous LEGO ‘System in Play’. With this, children got an opportunity to explore their imagination and come up with their designed houses, rockets, and ships. In 1958, Godtfred took it one step further. He modified the plastic bricks in a way that they could be linked with each other in countless combination.
DID YOU KNOW? Google’s first-ever server was housed in an enclosure made of LEGOs. Google paid its tribute to LEGO with this iconic doodle to celebrate 50 years of LEGO. |
By 1961, LEGO decided to produce only plastic bricks and expand its business to many other countries. Godtfred came up with a marvellous idea to sell his toys to the whole world. He built the Billund Airport in Denmark and established a private 800-meter long runway and hangar north of his factory in Billund. Soon he expanded that and made a whole LEGO-themed amusement park in 1968. It was a huge success, with 600,000 guests in the very first year!
“Wow!” Binnie exclaimed! “This is incredible. I didn’t know that LEGO bricks had such an amazing history”. She turned towards the tiny LEGO house she had built that morning and smiled.
Well, that was the Origin Story of LEGO. The sole idea behind these tiny bricks is to encourage everyone to expand their imagination, experience, and express their idea of the world.
Did you like reading the Origin Story of how LEGO came to be? Stay tuned as we take you to yet another intriguing story under our new series – The Origin Story – next month.
Like this story? Read weird fun facts about plants here:
Weird But True: 10 Facts About Plants That Will Blow Your Mind
Books are Tanaya Goswami’s first love and cheesecakes come a close second. Talking about movies, music, calligraphy, politics, and Elon Musk will get you listed under the friends’ section of her diary. Ever since moving on from her job as an English lecturer, she spends her time at BYJU’S crafting stories filled with emotion and sprinkled with sarcasm. Outside of work, she’s either learning something new (French, most recently!) or is curled up with a book and a cup of coffee. She firmly believes that discovering what you don’t know is the key to knowledge and is constantly working towards improving herself. Drop in a line at storyweavers@byjus.com if you liked her stories, have something nice to say, or if you have compelling ideas to share!
Arya C is a 4th grader who talks about her transition from the US to India and how BYJU`S has helped her at that. She also loves how BYJU`S has made learning a lot more fun.
Meet Sourabh who has a ton to say about his BYJU`S learning experience. His love for quizzes, games and other fun activities are paying off!
V Shriya is a class eight student who has been using BYJU’S for a year now. She shares her experiences with using the app and how it has helped her in improving her academic performance.
Aanvi from class 9 has been with BYJU`S for just 6 months and hear what she has to say about her learning experience with the app.
Comments
Siddhi Arun Kadam
August 19, 2020
I love it. That’s so interesting. Really.
Siddhi Arun Kadam
August 19, 2020
It’s inspiring.
Sneha chirakkal
August 8, 2020
Wow this is amazing ???????
Deva
August 1, 2020
Wow it’s amazing
Shubha
July 29, 2020
It was really interesting.
B.Venu Sudarshan
July 27, 2020
Super
Satwik Singh
June 21, 2020
I have lego as it is so difficult to make it
Neeraja
June 20, 2020
Wow , I just love Lego. Just like Binnie , I didn’t know that Lego had such an amazing history. I am really looking forward for the next set of these amazing stories
Vishav jamwal
June 14, 2020
Super
Chinmaya.c
June 13, 2020
??????
Ashu
June 12, 2020
Amazing!!!
Jahnvi
June 5, 2020
Really interesting
Sukanya
June 2, 2020
It was really interesting
Lakshita Rana
May 30, 2020
Amazing!?
Lakshita Rana
May 30, 2020
Wow!?
It was really interesting and
Informative…..
Prachi
May 26, 2020
It was really nice reading such an epic story about determination and hard work
Anish ganesh
May 25, 2020
Wow?.This is the best origin story I have ever heard and I love Lego. Because we can make anything from its bricks ?.I am so excited to read another origin story.
Thank you
?✌️
Akshat Agarwal
May 25, 2020
Wow, what a wonderful story of LEGO. It was really nice and interesting ??
Saumya
May 21, 2020
Wow
Dhiren jain
May 20, 2020
Wow ! Amazing .it is really true and yes, seriously waiting for another series
V.keerthana
May 19, 2020
Wow ! It was intresting & amazing to read.
V.keerthana
May 19, 2020
Wow ! It was amazing to read.
Aryan Bharati
May 19, 2020
It is so inspirational and motivational things to learn from the history of LEGO
Omprakash
May 17, 2020
Excellent
Vathsal
May 11, 2020
It was very interesting Wow
Krishna
May 9, 2020
wonderful story.
Athul
May 1, 2020
It’s was very amazing
Jaivik J
April 30, 2020
WOW! What a great story. I am so excited about another series of origin story.
Pahal
April 30, 2020
Your articles are amazing!!
Avrajit Biswas
April 29, 2020
Wow!!!
So brilliant thinking.
Kavin
April 28, 2020
Amazing story to read
SUPERB!
Vedaant
April 28, 2020
It’s an inspiring story
Soumik
April 28, 2020
Thank you Byjus & Tanaya Goswami for this wonderful story! Got to know something new. Looking forward to the next amazing story.
miss aastha patel
April 27, 2020
wow! I didn’t know Lego had a big history
Samarjeet singh
April 26, 2020
A big fan of Lego blocks made different types of engin with these blocks as they are many favourites.Thomas the tank engine.
Ashok
April 26, 2020
It seems intersting to know more about lego.??
Snehil
April 26, 2020
I love to read story books. Unloved reading the amazing story behind the world.
Ankita Aich
April 25, 2020
I understand it that “Ole think his toys
were fried in seconds after that but he
don’t lost its hope ” And I think that
We also should not lose our hope. ?
Rajesh Ranjan
April 25, 2020
Very inspiring
Aakash
April 25, 2020
It’s very interesting and useful
Riddhi Patil
April 25, 2020
It was amazing!
Brahmadatta
April 24, 2020
It was so interesting,I love it
Chirag
April 24, 2020
I never knew that Lego had a big history
Rajshree
April 24, 2020
So much interesting and curious about the next series
Variya Jain
April 24, 2020
Very great….. amazing ??
R.grishma
April 23, 2020
It’s so wonderful to know the history of LEGO
I’m eagerly waiting for another intriguing story
Thank you byjus ☺☺☺
Raiyan khan
April 23, 2020
Really, It was amazing and also mind blowing and worked as a mind refresher.
Thank you! Byju’s for the this amazing story.
Radhika
April 23, 2020
I would
Iove stories like this I am excited about
Other series
Debasmith Das
April 23, 2020
Very interesting story. I really love it
Anette. Shaijan
April 23, 2020
WOW Amazing
Ankita Jana
April 23, 2020
This was informative
Samadrita sen
April 23, 2020
Wow I love it…I knew the story of LEGO…. Yes……??
Adila bashar
April 23, 2020
Amazing!never thought the tiny blocks had such a history.
Srinidhi
April 23, 2020
The Origin story-LEGO inspiring story..?
Srinidhi
April 23, 2020
That was awesome ?
Shivansh Sharma
April 23, 2020
Amazing!
Thilokkumar
April 23, 2020
Wow!
Kumar subhankar
April 23, 2020
Thank you byju’s for send this information.
??
Krishna Satpute
April 23, 2020
It was very interesting ?
Anant Arvindan
April 23, 2020
I have watched this story on YouTube but I never saw the picture of the Kirk family.
Wow!!!
Gargi Kumawat
April 23, 2020
WOW!It’s amazing. Please send more .
Shavul hameed
April 23, 2020
Nice interesting news thanks you BYJU’S
Aryaa
April 23, 2020
Wow
Shrivats Bansal
April 23, 2020
It’s brilliant story
Sheetal Jain
April 23, 2020
Wow what a great story
Karanveer
April 23, 2020
That’s amazing ???
Akshay
April 23, 2020
Great….. further enhances participation!
Dev Sheth (Mini Stephen curry)
April 23, 2020
Wow….v.intersting
Keep sending more …about space & universe
TANUSRI KINTALI
April 23, 2020
I never thought that LEGO has an amazing story in the past
Aditya
April 23, 2020
Really very informative and very interesting
Story of worlds biggest toy company. I’m
Really excited for next origin story.
Avi Shivraj
April 22, 2020
It’s awesome and really really inspiring.
Avi Shivraj
April 22, 2020
It’s awesome
Trisha gupta
April 22, 2020
Wow it was really amazing
I am waiting for such intresting story
Trisha gupta
April 22, 2020
Wow it was really amazing
I am waiting for another such intresting
Stories.
Trisha gupta
April 22, 2020
Wow it was really amazing I will wait for another such intresting story
Tanishka Tyagi
April 22, 2020
Fantastic
Alvina maria
April 22, 2020
wow is great
Alvina maria
April 22, 2020
wow this story is great and wonderful. It is interesting and amazing.This give me information of LEGO.
Ayushi Sharma
April 22, 2020
It was really interesting story, behind the world’s biggest toy company.
Ayushi Sharma
April 22, 2020
It was really interesting story,story behind the world’s biggest toy company.
Sanskriti Rawat
April 22, 2020
Thanks for the interesting story of Lego. Looking forward to have more such interesting informations.
Divya Zambare
April 22, 2020
The Origin Of LEGO is a Fascinating story. I loved it and waiting for the next series to come.
Thank you Byjus.
Samriddhi Arya
April 22, 2020
Very interesting
Gowri
April 22, 2020
It’s awesome ?
Jisna Jose
April 22, 2020
It was really such an amazing story!!Just loved it and
inspired us!!Keep sending stories like this so that apart from studies
we also gain knowledge outside it..
nihar
April 22, 2020
the big story behind tiny blocks is amazing
Sreya gladson
April 22, 2020
This story is really inspires me
Pragyan yadav
April 22, 2020
Wow. Very interesting
Anika Kulshrestha - student
April 22, 2020
I love it, please send more origin stories
Viraj Deshmukh
April 22, 2020
It is very inspiring
Dhananjaya
April 22, 2020
Super i like
Jeyalakshmi
April 22, 2020
really breathtaking eagerly waiting for another series like this
Jeyalakshmi
April 22, 2020
really awesome very eager to hear many origin from this great author!!
Krishiv Kumar
April 22, 2020
I love reading this and it is amazing and wonderful story.
Bahunlang
April 22, 2020
Wow it was such an interesting story!
Shubham
April 22, 2020
I play it but I can’t know about it thanks and please send such interesting origin stories ?????
KIRTI
April 22, 2020
WOW
Avantika Jaiswal
April 22, 2020
Wow!
Its amazing!!!!?
Prapti soni
April 22, 2020
Amazing story
Vidit Srivastava
April 22, 2020
nice one
Gracia deva needhi.J
April 22, 2020
WOW! Such an amazing history lego has! Thank you for the information. It was so useful.
Abishek
April 22, 2020
It’s awesome to hear a marvellous imagination from simpler blocks
Thankyou….
balkishore sipka
April 22, 2020
awesome
Vyom
April 22, 2020
Superb!!!! It gives a brief description about
the world’s favourite game of children which
every child would be desiring of.
Angel dubey
April 22, 2020
Food & NUTRITION
Harshal ravnang
April 22, 2020
WOWWW. It’s very inspiring and I am very excited to read another series of the orgin story
Shreesha
April 22, 2020
It is really interesting, I am waiting for the next series of this origin story.
Shreesha
April 22, 2020
Really interesting
Sanjana alur
April 22, 2020
Excellent information Byjus will always be admired by me for the kind of information it gives??
Priyanga
April 22, 2020
It was amazing
Fathima
April 22, 2020
It’s really good story.
and l am curious about next series
Fathima
April 22, 2020
It’s really a good story and
I am curious about the next serious.
Avni Jain
April 22, 2020
Great
LEGO is definitely every kid’s childhood memory
Pulkit
April 22, 2020
Amazing!!! It’s a great story.
Pulkit
April 22, 2020
Amazing!!! It’s interesting.Exited for more.
Arunkumar
April 22, 2020
Thank you byju’s.
Priyangshu Das
April 22, 2020
It was nice!!☺️
Ananya Das
April 22, 2020
Awesome , I did not know that . Amazing for my knowledge
Sujay
April 22, 2020
Thanks for information about LEGO and it’s origin !!????
Anvi kadoo
April 22, 2020
Woah!!!
ANUVARSHA.s
April 22, 2020
so good and interesting to learn.
ANUVARSHA.s
April 22, 2020
really amazing
JAY 31
April 22, 2020
Woooow!!!
Yûvàráj
April 22, 2020
Wow it’s amazing ???
M.RithishNivash
April 22, 2020
Wow
Keerthana Nambiar
April 22, 2020
That’s too AWESOME!!!
Pratibha
April 22, 2020
Curious to learn more about the next origin series
Mrunal shinde
April 22, 2020
Amazing!!!!
Interesting and informative….
Kristi
April 22, 2020
Wow
?
?
??Great!
?
??Cool?
???
?
??
Aviral Shukla
April 22, 2020
It is really amazing. I like this content
Very much. ?
Drishan koushik
April 22, 2020
Wow!!
Arayna patni
April 22, 2020
WOW…it is always intersting to learn amazing and weird facts about simple things ….keep sending more such articles
divya hasini
April 22, 2020
I was very curious to read the the story and I wish you to send more origin stories like this so that there will be a new interest created in students and I wondered that a small block of Lego has thos large history and anyways thankyou so much for making me learn this history of Lego blocks
Kritisha Chakravorty
April 22, 2020
This Is splendid !!!! I am eagerly waiting for the next origin story!
Kritisha Chakravorty
April 22, 2020
This was awesome!!!! I am eagerly waiting for the next origin story!
Praveen Singh
April 22, 2020
Amazing story of determination
Priyavrat
April 22, 2020
Omg ..
Simran Kaur
April 22, 2020
It is so helpful for students.
PULKIT THUKRAL
April 16, 2020
Please, send us some more stories and some avengers diy material as i am bored in this lockdown period……
Tanishqmaheshwari
March 29, 2020
Please tell the story of dominoes game next month
Nishchala
March 27, 2020
Please send more interesting things like this as I am really bored in my home isolation period.
Charmi
March 25, 2020
Excellent ??
Dhruvi Dronawat
March 25, 2020
WOW!!
Anushka dadhich
March 23, 2020
It’s inspiring wow it’s helpful for my information
Trrishan Saha
March 21, 2020
Wow!
Arpan
March 20, 2020
Loved reading the amazing story behind the world’s biggest toy company.
Archisha
March 20, 2020
It was really interesting, I am so excited about another series of the origin story.