How the American Girl toy empire has changed over time, from its iconic historical characters to dolls with modern stories

A selection of American Girl's historical characters on display at the American Girl Store in New York City.Darcy Schild/Insider

• American Girl was founded in 1986 by Pleasant Rowland, a retired teacher and writer.
• The doll company went from a catalog-only brand to an empire that includes retail stores with cafes and doll hospitals, a magazine, books, and a social media presence.
• Today, many of American Girl's 18-inch-tall dolls start at $98, and some of them can be made-to-order with custom hair types and skin tones.
• In recent years, the brand has focused on dolls with contemporary stories, such as the character Joss Kendrick, who comes with a hearing aid; as well as its latest historical character, whose story is set in the 1980s.

Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly.

To some, those might just be a random assortment of girls' names — but to past and present owners of American Girl dolls, Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly are household names in their own right.

The three characters were American Girl's first 18-inch dolls, which were introduced in 1986.

Today, some American Girl dolls have stories set in centuries past, while other characters are rooted in modern-day society — representing various walks of life, all through the lens of girlhood.

Insider spoke with the brand's president, Jamie Cygielman, to find out how American Girl is continuing to capture the attention of kids in a changing and increasingly digital and socially conscious world. Keep reading to see where the doll empire started in the 1980s and how it's changed through the years.