Whether you’re holding on to your inner child well into middle age or smack-dab in the middle of childhood itself, all serious LEGO® fans can probably remember a parental voice calling from outside the sacred realm of imagination.
“Are you STILL playing with your little LEGO® toys? Your homework had better be done!”
We have the response (with our apologies if it’s a few decades late):
“Mom, these LEGO® builds are my homework!”
And that’s the beauty of LEGO® history sets and the minifigs that go with them. Let’s look at some of the coolest historical LEGO® minifigures ever produced, just in case your parents ask.
1. Abraham Lincoln
Honest Abe has always been iconic—from his famous stovepipe hat to his trendsetting facial hair. And how about that Gettysburg Address?
One of America’s most fashionable presidents looks awfully good in plastic. Even better? There’s no LEGO® John Wilkes Booth, so Lincoln can visit the theater whenever he wants.
Build Ideas:
- The Inauguration of 1861
- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
- Lincoln Winning the Civil War
2. William Shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a LEGO® brick?
Thou art more lovely and less plastic!
The Bard has long been known for his way with words—which neatly complements thy talents with bricks. He was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I, but you don’t need to be royalty to appreciate the passionate tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the magical shenanigans of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, or the forest-moving treachery of Macbeth.
Build Ideas:
- Your Favorite Scenes from Shakespeare in Love
- The Writing of King Lear
- Rehearsal at The Rose
3. Cleopatra
Let’s shine a light on how Cleopatra’s brilliance and charisma effortlessly outshine the competition, proving she’s more than a match for any of these guys—all while keeping her famous eyeliner flawless. She ruled Egypt for 21 years and was famous around the world for her riches, charm, and intelligence. And we’ll just take this opportunity to point out that there’s no LEGO® Mark Antony.
Build Ideas:
- First Date with Julius Caesar
- The Invention of Leap Year
- Battle of Actium
4. Roman Emperor
This historical LEGO® minifig hasn’t been named, giving you a wide range of 80 or so guys you can experiment with. It could be Augustus, who brought Pax Romana to the empire. What about Commodus, Joaquin Phoenix’s character in Gladiator? Grab the Violin Kid minifig, swipe his instrument, and give it to your Roman Emperor for an instant LEGO® Nero. Does anyone smell fire? He wasn’t technically an emperor, but we think you could get away with using this guy as Julius Caesar for that date with Cleopatra.
Build Ideas:
- Marcus Aurelius Composing The Meditations
- Claudius Attacking the Roman Senate
- Constantine I Converting to Christianity on His Deathbed
5. Knights
These LEGO® knights represent the freedom to go in whatever direction you want. Maybe it’s Sir Galahad of the Round Table? Grab a LEGO® dragon set to build an opponent for St. George! Hey, Sir Elton John was knighted—it could be him! Just build him a piano and a yellow brick road and let him go to town.
Build Ideas
- The Knights Who Say, “Ni!”
- The Round Table
- Knight of the Living Dead
6. Pharaoh
We know what you’re thinking. Why do we need a dude pharaoh when we have Cleopatra? It’s simple: Have him be Ptolemy XII Auletes, who dies and paves the way for his more famous successor! If only we had a LEGO® Charlton Heston, we could have Rameses II refusing to “let my people go!”
Build Ideas:
- Building the Pyramids (with or Without Alien Help)
- Scenes from The Mummy (Fraser, Not Cruise)
- Steve Martin’s King Tut Song
Find Your Next Historical LEGO® Set at Bricks & Minifigs
Whether you’re a history buff or not, we can all agree that LEGO® sets are fun, creative, and satisfying. No matter what you’re into, Bricks & Minifigs is the best place to buy, sell, and trade LEGO® items of all types.
Find the nearest location and look for your favorite historical minifigure from this list, a rare set, or the perfect selection of bricks you need to complete your latest build.