- 20th century

1910s

1916: Ole Kirk Christiansen purchases the small woodworking shop in Billund.

1920s

July 6, 1920: Godfred Kirk Christiansen is born.
1924: Ole Kirk's shop burns down when a fire ignites some wood shavings. Ole Kirk builds a larger workshop, renting out most of the space, and using the rest for his own shop.

1930s

1932: Ole Kirk Christiansen's shop nearly goes bankrupt in the depression. With a lack of normal carpentry jobs, Ole Kirk starts producing toys, many of which were wooden pull toys.
1934: The company name LEGO is coined by Christiansen from the Danish phrase leg godt, meaning "play well". Coincidentically, "Lego" also means "I assemble" in Latin.
1935: The LEGO Duck is featured.
1937: Godfred Kirk Christiansen starts creating models.
1939: The company grows to 10 employees.

1940s

1942: A fire breaks out in the factory, forcing the company to rebuild.
1943: The company grows to 40 employees.
1947: Ole Kirk purchases the first plastic moulding machine in Denmark, and the company begins manufacturing plastic toys. The Christiansens are inspired by samples of the "Kiddicraft Self-Locking Building Brick", a design patented by the Briton Mr. Harry Fisher Page. December 27 - Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is born.
1948: The company grows to 50 employees.
1949: Lego begins producing similar plastic bricks, calling them "Automatic Binding Bricks."

1950s

1951: The first ever film about LEGO is shot. The photographer is Chistian Lund, and the film is black and white with no sound.
1953:
Automatic Binding Bricks are renamed Lego Mursten, or "Lego Bricks."
First baseplates are created.
1954:
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen becomes junior managing director of Lego, and soon has the idea to turn Lego bricks into a toy system.
LEGO windows and doors are introduced.
May 1: The word LEGO is officially registered in Denmark.
First beam bricks are released.
1955:
Lego releases its first toy "system" of the Town Plan.
Lego bricks begin selling better, but are not yet the core Lego product.
Lego first exports toys to Sweden.
Godfred Kirk Christiansen demonstrates the LEGO bricks at a toy fair in Nuremberg, Germany.
First LEGO trees are released.
1956: A sales company for Lego is built in Hohenwestedt, Germany.
1957:
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen is appointed Managing Director.
First LEGO flags, lights, and windows.
1958:
The Lego brick design is improved to allow better versatility and "locking" ability.
Ole Kirk Christiansen dies; Godtfred inherits leadership of the Lego Company.
The LEGO company patents the stud-and-tube coupling system. This new system makes models much more stable. Sloping roof tile bricks are featured.
The company in Billund grows to 140 employees.
1959:
A small staff at Lego, the "Futura" division, is established to develop ideas for new sets.
Lego begins selling its products in other countries such as Norway, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK.
LEGO France, British LEGO Ltd., LEGO Belgium and LEGO Sweden are established.

1960s

1960:
February: Another warehouse fire consumes most of Lego inventory of wooden toys.
Production of wooden toys is discontinued; the company changes its focus to the plastic building bricks.
LEGO Finland and LEGO Netherlands are established.
By the end of the year, the company grows to 450 employees.
1961:
The LEGO wheel is introduced.
Sales start in the United States and Canada through a license agreement with Samsonite Corp.
LEGO Italy established
1961–1962: Lego makes an arrangement allowing Samsonite to begin producing and selling Lego products in Canada, an arrangement that would continue until 1988.
1962:
Lego sells toys in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Marocco, and Japan.
LEGO 1/3 elements are introduced.
1963:
Cellulose acetate is abandoned in favor of the more stable ABS plastic in making Lego bricks.
Samsonite begins producing Lego bricks under license in North America.
Lego Austria is established.
The Lego Group starts Modulex.
1964:
The first Lego sets containing instruction manuals are introduced.
Lego sells toys in Lebanon.
A production plant, LEGO Werkzeugbau GmbH, is opened in Hohenwehenstedt, Germany.
1965:
Lego Samsonite is discontinued.
The company in Billund grows to more than 600 employees.
1966:
One of Lego most successful series, the Lego train system is released. Initial train sets include a 4.5-volt motor and rails.
LEGO is now sold in 42 countries.
1967: First LEGO hinges.
1968:
Train sets with a 12-volt motor are introduced.
On June 7, the Legoland Park in Billund is opened, in which 3,000 people visit on the opening day.
LEGO bricks with magnets are introduced.
1969:
The Duplo system, using larger bricks and targeting younger children but also compatible with existing Lego bricks, is released.
The company in Billund grows to 843 employees.

1970s
1970: The company grows to 1,000 employees.
1971: LEGO introduces furniture pieces and dollhouses for girls.
1972: Lego added boat and ship sets, with hull pieces that actually floated.
LEGO USA established in Brookfield, Connecticut.
1973:
LEGO USA moves to its present-day location in Enfield, Connecticut.
All Lego products are placed under one logo, a red square with the word, Lego, in white bordered by black and yellow.
Lego first sells toys to Hungary.
LEGO Portugal is established.
1974:
Lego figures are launched, starting with the Lego family.
Bricks and Pieces, the first official LEGO newsletter, is introduced in the United Kingdom.
LEGO Spain is established.
1975:
The company grows to 2,500 employees.
The Expert Series sets are introduced.
1977:
The Lego Technic (known as the Expert Builder) series is launched.
Lego Town is launched.
Lego Boats is launched.
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen joins the Lego Group management.
Duplo people are introduced.
1978:
Lego introduces mini-figures with movable limbs and hands that can grasp utensils. This was the company's second most important design, after the brick itself.
Lego Castle is introduced.
Lego Space is introduced.
1979:
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen becomes president of Lego.
Lego introduces the Space, Fabuland, and Scala themes.
LEGO Singapore is established.

1980s

1980:
Lego establishes the Educational Products Department.
New factories are opened in Switzerland and Jutland, Denmark.
It is revealed in a survey that seventy percent of all Western European families with kids under fourteen own LEGO bricks.
LEGO train tracks are introduced.
1981: The second generation of Lego trains is produced, including a wider variety of accessories.
1982:
Expert Builder series matured and became Technic.
The Lego Group celebrates its 50th anniversary on August 13th.
The book, 50 years of play is published.
LEGO South Africa is established.
First LEGO wind-up engine.
1983:
Lego launches the Duplo Baby series.
The company grows to 3,700 employees worldwide.
1984:
Lego Castle series is launched.
Lego pneumatics are added to the Technic series.
LEGO Brazil is established.
LEGO Korea is established.
1985:
Light & Sound sets are introduced.
Lego company grows to 5,000 employees worldwide; 3,000 of them being in Billund.
The gearstick is introduced.
1986:
Lego Technic robots controlled by computers are placed in schools.
Light and Sound sets are launched of Lego Town and Space themes.
Another factory in Manaus, Brazil is opened.
Godfred Kirk Christiansen resigns as chairman of the board of LEGO System A/S and LEGO Overseas.
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen takes over for Godfred Kirk Christiansen.
1987:
Forestman, Crusaders, and Black Knights, sub-lines of Lego Castle, are introduced.
Blacktron I and Futuron, sub-lines of Lego Space, are introduced.
LEGO reaches almost 6,000 employees.
LEGO South Africa is closed.
Lego Club is established.
1988:
The first Lego World Cup building contest is held in Billund.
LEGO Canada is established.
The "Brick Separator" is introduced.
1989:
Lego Pirates theme is launched.
Lego Educational Products Department is renamed Lego Dacta.
Brick Kicks, the first official LEGO Club magazine, is introduced.
Space Police I, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Soldier, a sub-line of Lego Pirates is introduced.

1990s

1990

Lego Model Team sets are released.
Lego is one of the top 10 toy companies of 1990.
Forestman is discontinued.
The Blacktron I and Futuron themes are discontinued.
Space Police I is discontinued.
M:Tron, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Soldier, a sub-line of Lego Pirates is discontinued.
LEGO Malaysia is established.
The Duplo Zoo is launched.
9V Technic motors are first introduced in Europe, starting phase-out of 4.5V system.

1991

9V Technic motors are introduced in other markets including North America.
9V Trains motors are made 9V to bring the system into line with the rest of the Lego range. From this point on, all Lego electric parts are solely 9V.
Lego Paradisa is launched.
Blacktron II, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Imperial Guards, a sub-line of Lego Pirates is introduced.
The company grows to 7,550 employees.

1992

Lego sets two Guinness World Records.
Paradisa and Duplo Toolo sets are introduced.
On Swedish television, the world's largest LEGO Castle is built.
The Crusaders theme is discontinued.
Wolfpack, a sub-line of Lego Castle is introduced.
Space Police II, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
LEGO Japan is established.
LEGO Hungary is established.
The first LEGO Imagination Center is opened in Mall of America in Blomington, Minneapolis, United States.
The three-blade propeller is introduced.

1993

Duplo introduces a train and a parrot-shaped "brickvac" that could scoop Lego pieces up off the floor.
Space Police I is re-released.
Wolfpack, a sub-line of Lego Castle is discontinued.
Dragon Masters is introduced.
M:Tron, a sub-line of Lego Space is discontinued.
Blacktron II, a sub-line of Lego Space is discontinued.
Space Police II, a sub-line of Lego Space is discontinued.
Ice Planet 2002, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
LEGO South Africa re-established.
The orange transparent brick is introduced.

1994

The Black Knights theme is discontinued.
Ice Planet 2002, a sub-line of Lego Space is discontinued.
Unitron, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Spyrius, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Islanders, a sub-line of Lego Pirates is introduced, then discontinued.
LEGO Mexico is established.
The company grows to 8,880 employees worldwide.
First pink Lego bricks.
Brick Kicks, the official LEGO Club Magazine, is renamed LEGO Mania Magazine.

1995

Lego Primo series is introduced.
Lego Aquazone is introduced.
Royal Knights, a sub-line of Lego Castle is introduced.
Unitron is discontinued.
Imperial Guards, a sub-line of Lego Pirates is discontinued.
Aquanauts, a sub-line of Lego Aquazone is introduced.
Aquasharks, a sub-line of Lego Aquazone is introduced.
Lego TechBuild, a sub-line of Lego Technic is introduced.
Lego TechPlay, another sub-line of Lego Technic is introduced.
July 13: Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, son of the company's founder, dies.
LEGO Belgium and LEGO Netherlands become LEGO Benelux.
LEGO dolphin element is introduced.

1996

March 29: LEGOLAND Windsor is opened in the United Kingdom.
The Lego Watch System is launched.
Lego Wild West is launched.
LEGO.com is launched.
Lego Boats is discontinued.
Dark Forest, a sub-line of Lego Castle is introduced.
Spyrius theme is discontinued.
Exploriens, a sub-line of Lego Space are introduced, then discontinued.
Imperial Armada, a sub-line of Lego Pirates is introduced, then discontinued.
Aquanauts, a sub-line of Lego Aquazone is discontinued.
LEGOLAND Billund reaches 25 million visitors since its opening in 1968.
It is estimated that 180 billion LEGO elements have been made and over 300 million people worldwide play with them.

1997

Lego launches its first computer game, Lego Island.
Lego introduces fiber-optic elements.
Lego Paradisa is discontinued.
LEGO Divers is introduced, then discontinued
Fright Knights, a sub-line of Lego Castle is introduced.
Roboforce, a sub-line of Lego Space are introduced, then discontinued.
UFO, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Aquaraiders, a sub-line of Lego Aquazone is introduced, then discontinued.

1998

Lego launches the Lego Creator, Loco, and Chess computer games.
Lego introduces beige bricks.
Lego Adventurers and Insectoids series are introduced.
Lego releases Mindstorms, a programmable computerized brick with Lego-compatible sensors and motors.
The red Lego logo introduced in 1973 is updated. It is a graphically tightened version of the logo used for the past 25 years.
Lego rereleases the Crusaders, Black Knights, and Dragon Masters themes.
Royal Knights theme is discontinued.
Fright Knights theme is discontinued.
Insectoids, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Lego Aquazone is discontinued.
Aquasharks, a sub-line of Lego Aquazone is discontinued.
Hydronauts, a sub-line of Lego Aquazone is introduced, then discontinued.
Stingrays, a sub-line of Lego Aquazone is introduced, then discontinued.
Egypt, a sub-line of Lego Adventurers is introduced, then discontinued.
Lego Cyberslam, is introduced.
Lego CyberMaster is introduced, then discontinued.

1999

March: Legoland California opens in Carlsbad, California.
Lego Rock Raiders series is introduced.
Lego produces a Star Wars theme with Lucasfilm, beginning a trend of licensed Lego products.
Ice Planet 2002 is re-released.
Spyrius theme is re-released.
UFO and Insectoids themes are discontinued.
Jungle a sub-line of Lego Adventurers is introduced, then discontinued.
Lego Underground is introduced.
Lego Slizers (Throwbots) is introduced.
Lego Cyberslam is discontinued.
Lego TechPlay is discontinued.