Celebrating Girls and all they can be

American Girl charactersPrint

American Girl characters past and present show girls today that they can do great things if they believe in themselves and each other. From a Native American girl living in the Northwest in 1764 to a contemporary girl whose passions inspire action, the characters in every story illustrate the power of determination, imagination, courage, and hope—the same spirit that inspires modern American girls.

Historical Characters

Introduced in 1986, the historical characters give girls an engaging glimpse into important times in America's past. Each character's story is told in a series of compelling books, focusing on such themes as family, school, holiday, birthday, summer, and winter adventures. Gentle life lessons throughout the stories remind girls of such lasting values as the importance of family and friends, compassion, responsibility, and forgiveness. Each book concludes with a nonfiction picture essay, "A Peek into the Past," that further explores the character's historical period. Our historical characters currently include:

  • Kaya®, an adventurous Nez Perce girl growing up in 1764, before America became a country;
  • Caroline®, a brave girl who helps her family safely navigate the War of 1812;
  • Josefina®, a girl living in colonial New Mexico in 1824 during the opening of the Santa Fe Trail;
  • Marie-Grace™ and Cécile™, two girls reaching across boundaries to form a friendship in New Orleans in 1853;
  • Addy®, a courageous girl from 1864, determined to be free during the Civil War;
  • Rebecca®, a lively girl with dramatic flair growing up in New York City in 1914;
  • Kit®, a clever, resourceful girl growing up in 1934 during America’s Great Depression;
  • Molly®, a patriotic girl growing up on the home front in 1944 while the world is at war;
  • Julie®, a fun-loving girl growing up in San Francisco during the seventies;

To bring the stories to life, skilled designers have created a beautifully crafted 18-inch doll for each character, along with historically accurate clothing and accessories evoking her world and adventures. By reading the stories and playing with the dolls, girls can learn how growing up has changed—and how it has stayed the same—throughout American history.

Girl of the Year® Characters

Introduced in 2001, American Girl’s contemporary Girl of the Year characters give voice to a diverse range of personalities and backgrounds. Each modern-day character comes to life through her own special story and 18-inch doll, plus several outfits and accessories that reflect her lifestyle, interests, and activities. To keep the line relevant and reflective of things girls love today, each contemporary character is replaced annually.

For a free American Girl catalogue featuring the American Girl character dolls, books, and accessories, call 800-845-0005 or request one online.