Iconic Barney Artifacts Featured in MoPOP’s MASSIVE: Power of Pop Culture Exhibition

The Barney case at MOPOP in Seattle.

The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is proud to showcase rare and historically significant Barney & the Backyard Gangartifacts as part of its acclaimed exhibition, MASSIVE: Power of Pop Culture. The display highlights the enduring impact of children’s television and its role in shaping generations through creativity, empathy, and imaginative storytelling.

On view in the exhibition are three standout artifacts from the early legacy of Barney & the Backyard Gang: the original Three Wishes Director’s Shooting Script, an original Three Wishes home video box, and a rare 1990 string-mouth Barney Dakin plush. Together, these items offer a behind-the-scenes look at the formative years of one of the most influential children’s television franchises in history.

These artifacts are featured within MASSIVE: Power of Pop Culture to underscore the significance of children’s media as a powerful cultural force. Through characters like Barney, children’s television has long served as a platform for teaching social values, emotional intelligence, and community—an influence that continues to resonate across generations.

“Barney & the Backyard Gang is a perfect fit for MASSIVE,” said a representative of the exhibition. “Its legacy demonstrates how children’s programming can transcend entertainment to become a meaningful part of pop culture history.”

The Barney artifacts are presented in collaboration with Barney History Fans, a dedicated preservation group committed to documenting and celebrating the history of the franchise.

MASSIVE: Power of Pop Culture is now on display at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle. Visitors are invited to explore how iconic media—from children’s television to global entertainment phenomena—has shaped culture, creativity, and connection.

For more information, visit mopop.org.