All this information was compiled into an exhaustive online resource, aimed at shining a light on this fascinating part of the American experience and our cultural heritage. It started with four years of research into the virtually unexplored world of these little vintage boxes. Your new site is fantastic! Tell us a bit about how you brought this idea to life… To this day, women all across the country treasure their little boxes as reminders of their high school graduation and that special time in their lives. Lane Furniture’s Girl Graduate Plan presented the little boxes to young ladies as a high school graduation gifts through their national network of dealers. Miniature Lane cedar boxes are iconic American symbols of “days-gone-by”, “remember when” and “back-in-the-day.” Lane, mostly know for cedar hope chests, manufactured and distributed an estimated 27 million miniature boxes from 1925 to 2004 and their innovative Girl Graduate Plan was one of the most successful marketing programs of the 20th century. We’ve asked Chad to walk us through the history of these little gems and answer some of your burning questions – let us know your thoughts in the comments! What makes Lane miniature cedar chests such an iconic part of American furniture history?

This website is the definitive resource for any and all collector information. We’ve introduced you to vintage Lane expert Chad Hilkemeier in an earlier feature and we’re happy to report he’s joining us again to introduce his fantastic new site: Lane Cedar Box. We could all use a little more hope these days and perhaps that’s what makes the Lane miniature cedar chests extra-special for collectors. It’s so fun to hear about the beloved family memories connected with these hope chests: grandmothers who received these pieces for their high school graduation or as a gift from their love-struck beau.

Dear readers, we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of comments on our cedar chest article.

Cedar hope chest