MILWAUKEE, WI — On April 25, to celebrate License Plates Day, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled the first license plate bobbles. 

Bobbles for all 50 states were released, and each bobble-plate features the state’s current license plate design on a base with two large springs that provide maximum bobbling action for each license plate. 

License Plates Day is celebrated annually on April 25 to commemorate the first license plate in the U.S., which was issued in 1901. Prior to that, there were no official markings or designations on vehicles. In 1901, New York became the first state to issue a license plate on vehicles after Gov. Benjamin Odell Jr. signed a new bill into law that required motor vehicle owners to be registered with the state. 

George F. Chamberlain is credited as the first person to receive a license plate for his vehicle. 

The trend was quickly picked up by West Coast states.

The U.S. took its lead from the Netherlands and France, which started national databases for license plates in the early 1890s. 

In 1903, Massachusetts issued plates. In 1928, Idaho was the first state to put a logo on the plate (the Idaho potato). 

Today, there are more than 250 million registered vehicles in the country, and each of them has a unique license plate number for a given state.

"We’re excited to be unveiling the License Plate Bobble Series License Plates Day,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “The license plates of all 50 states are unique in their own way and we think these license plate bobbles are the perfect way for people to celebrate their favorite states.”

About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, WI, opened to the public on February 1, 2019. The museum also produces customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as to organizations, individuals, and teams across the country. Visit it online at  www.bobbleheadhall.com/hall-of-fame or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can buy a bobble

The bobbling license plate, produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum (HOF), measures three inches by six inches, which is proportionate to actual license plates, said a spokesperson. Each bobble is individually numbered to each state’s year of statehood, and they are only available through the HOF’s online store. The bobbles, which are expected to ship in August, cost $30 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order. To learn more and purchase one, visit https://www.bobbleheadhall.com/