The American Girl franchise has become one of the most beloved in U.S. culture, probably to the credit of its dolls' realistic personalities, modeled after ordinary girls from American history and modern times. Thanks to a popular line of fictional biographies, girls got to know their favorite American Girl characters — and then they got to buy them. Dolls cost about $100 each and are sold in only a few dedicated stores, sprinkled around the country. The American Girl stores have been regular pilgrimage sites for many young girls lucky enough to make the trip. For the rest, there's the American Girl magazine.