Guide Note

LEGO's 50th Anniversary was Monday, January 28, 2008. This anniversary specifically commemorates the creation of the modern LEGO brick. Bricks produced today will still interlock with bricks produced in 1958. LEGO will hold commemorative events throughout the year, including a series of LEGO building competitions.

Fast Facts

1. Company founded: 1932
2. January 28, 1958: First LEGO patent application filed
3. Google: Special LEGO logo to honor the day

1. Head office: Billund, Denmark
2. LEGO = Danish phrase "leg godt," or "play well"
3. Founder: Ole Kirk Christiansen
4. Motto: "Only the best is good enough"
5. Named "Toy of the Century"
6. 1st LEGO bricks made in 1949
7. Originally called "Automatic Binding Bricks"
8. Current CEO: Jørgen Vig Knudstorp
9. Current owner: Kjeld Kir Kristiansen
10. Theme parks: Four

LEGO founder Ole Kirk Christiansen began as a carpenter, but moved into toymaking in 1932. In 1934 he christened his company LEGO. They began working with types of interlocking plastic bricks in 1949, but did not hit on the current design until 1958. The product line has since been extended, with action figures, themed sets, electronic and computer programmable elements and tie-ins to media properties.

1. LEGO bricks
2. LEGO Technic
3. LEGO Duplo: for younger children
4. LEGO Primo: for toddlers
5. LEGO Mindstorms: Programmable LEGOs