The Department 56 Story
1976
The Original "Six" Snow Village buildings premiered.
1979
The Original Snow Village buildings are retired. Twelve new Snow Village buildings were introduced as well as the first Village accessories.
1984
The Dickens' Village Series® was first released. The Original Dickens' Village was comprised seven Charles Dickens Era shops and a church in the spirit of a Victorian English Christmas.
1986
The New England Village Series and The Alpine Village Series® were released.
The Original Snowbabies™ figurines were released.
1987
The Christmas in the City® collection was released
1990
The North Pole Series™ was added to The Heritage Village Collection to capture the Legend of Santa.
1994
The Disney Parks Village Series™ and Snowbunnies® figures were born.
1998
The first year-round village, Seasons Bay™ was created to represent a late 19th-century American resort town.
The Snow Village Halloween series was introduced.
Elf Land™, an extension of the North Pole Series™, was created to give the elves a place to live and play after the holidays.
The first "Harley-Davidson" piece was introduced to The Original Snow Village.
2001
Department 56 and The Original Snow Village® Collection turned 25.
2004
Department 56 introduced eight battery operated lighted buildings that featured "long life cordless lighting".
2005
“A Christmas Story” was introduced. A humorous tale of a young boy named Ralphie with one thing on his Christmas list, a BB gun.
Clothtique Possible Dreams Santas were born and are stil the definitive Santa collectible.
2007
The “Christmas In The City” collection turns 20!
2008
Snow Village Halloween turns 10 a special anniversary release of the “Haunted Train Station” and an ongoing series of a train starting with “Haunted Rails Engine & Coal Car”.
The "Peanuts" Village is added to the Department 56 Village family. "Peanuts" appeals to every generation and enduring icons like Charlie Brown and Snoopy have made an indelible mark on popular culture.
2010
A new porcelain Village series "Williamsburg" delighted Village collectors and history buffs alike to recreate historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.
A new Disney licensed Village, "Mickey's Merry Christmas Village" was released
2011
Dr. Seuss' "The Grinch" became a new Village and featured Cindy-Lou Who and all the Whos down in Whoville!
2013
A colorful ceramic "Simpsons" Village series is released that included the Simpsons' house, Springfield Elementary School and the Kwik-E-Mart.
Department 56 released the "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" collection featuring the over-decorated Griswold House and Cousin Eddie's famous RV all decked out and ready for the season.
2014
Department 56 adds the "Downton Abbey®" collection to the vast Department 56 Village "Universe".
The Original "Six" Snow Village buildings premiered.
1979
The Original Snow Village buildings are retired. Twelve new Snow Village buildings were introduced as well as the first Village accessories.
1984
The Dickens' Village Series® was first released. The Original Dickens' Village was comprised seven Charles Dickens Era shops and a church in the spirit of a Victorian English Christmas.
1986
The New England Village Series and The Alpine Village Series® were released.
The Original Snowbabies™ figurines were released.
1987
The Christmas in the City® collection was released
1990
The North Pole Series™ was added to The Heritage Village Collection to capture the Legend of Santa.
1994
The Disney Parks Village Series™ and Snowbunnies® figures were born.
1998
The first year-round village, Seasons Bay™ was created to represent a late 19th-century American resort town.
The Snow Village Halloween series was introduced.
Elf Land™, an extension of the North Pole Series™, was created to give the elves a place to live and play after the holidays.
The first "Harley-Davidson" piece was introduced to The Original Snow Village.
2001
Department 56 and The Original Snow Village® Collection turned 25.
2004
Department 56 introduced eight battery operated lighted buildings that featured "long life cordless lighting".
2005
“A Christmas Story” was introduced. A humorous tale of a young boy named Ralphie with one thing on his Christmas list, a BB gun.
Clothtique Possible Dreams Santas were born and are stil the definitive Santa collectible.
2007
The “Christmas In The City” collection turns 20!
2008
Snow Village Halloween turns 10 a special anniversary release of the “Haunted Train Station” and an ongoing series of a train starting with “Haunted Rails Engine & Coal Car”.
The "Peanuts" Village is added to the Department 56 Village family. "Peanuts" appeals to every generation and enduring icons like Charlie Brown and Snoopy have made an indelible mark on popular culture.
2010
A new porcelain Village series "Williamsburg" delighted Village collectors and history buffs alike to recreate historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.
A new Disney licensed Village, "Mickey's Merry Christmas Village" was released
2011
Dr. Seuss' "The Grinch" became a new Village and featured Cindy-Lou Who and all the Whos down in Whoville!
2013
A colorful ceramic "Simpsons" Village series is released that included the Simpsons' house, Springfield Elementary School and the Kwik-E-Mart.
Department 56 released the "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" collection featuring the over-decorated Griswold House and Cousin Eddie's famous RV all decked out and ready for the season.
2014
Department 56 adds the "Downton Abbey®" collection to the vast Department 56 Village "Universe".
