Manchester City Library

Do you have nostalgic feelings about crayons? March 31st is National Crayon Day, and National Crayola Day too. I remember getting a brand-new pack of Crayola crayons on the first day school and loving that new crayon smell as I opened the box. In fact, the smell of crayons is one of the most recognized scents in the nation. In a study conducted by Yale (University?), the scent of crayons ranks 18 out of 80 as recognizable scents. Back when the Crayola Company started selling crayons in 1903, an 8-pack only cost five cents. In 1998: the 64-pack of Crayola Crayons was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. There are more than 200 unique colors that have been manufactured by Crayola, from 1903 to the present day. To read more about how the Crayola Company started, how crayons were first made, and to see samples of all the various colors that have been produced over the years, check out Crayola: A Visual Biography of the World’s Most Famous Crayons, by Lisa Solomon. While you’re here, take a look at our display on the main floor, just outside the elevator, and get inspired to start a new art project today!