COEUR d’ALENE — When Kathy Blanford received Barbie dolls as presents around age 10, she was never allowed to brush their hair.

That took some of the fun out of playing with the dolls back then — but it looked like a great decision Saturday, as some of her dolls were appraised by James Supp of "Antiques Roadshow" fame.

“Holy crikey,” Supp said as he checked recent auction data for similar Barbies.

Dozens of people gathered at the Fort Sherman Chapel for the appraisal event, organized by the Museum of North Idaho. The twice-annual event is a popular one where locals can learn about the history of treasured belongings.

Dolls like Blanford’s — “No. 2” Barbies, made in late 1960 or early 1961, in good condition — used to sell for between $250 and $400. Then the blockbuster Barbie movie sparked new interest in the fashion doll.

“The movie changed everything in the Barbie world,” Supp said.

Blanford’s brunette Barbie could sell to a collector for between $800 and $1,000 — or even more.

But her original Ken, in better condition than Barbie? Not so much. He might fetch around $250.

“To be honest, nobody gives a damn about Ken,” Supp said with a laugh.

Blanford laughed, too. “I almost didn’t bring him,” she confessed.

After the appraisal, Blanford said she wasn’t yet sure if she’ll sell the dolls while the market is hot or keep them due to the sentimental value. In any case, she said it was exciting to finally know if her childhood dolls were among the first batch of Barbies and Kens ever manufactured.

“I was glad I kept them,” she said.

Jordan Thomas, program manager for the Museum of North Idaho, said the appraisal events always draw a crowd.

“People are curious about what they have in their homes,” she said. “We see lots of family heirlooms.”

Watching other appraisals is as fun as learning about one’s own items, Thomas said. A few favorites stood out to her Saturday, including a richly colored Mexican blanket and a cane that had a sword hidden inside.

David Blanford said he was glad to learn the provenance of a pair of swords his parents had picked up at a long-ago auction. They turned out to be from the Civil War era, around 1864, and have a value of about $2,000.

“It’s kind of cool,” he said with a smile.

Sometimes appraisals unearth a forgotten piece of North Idaho’s past. That’s why the Museum of North Idaho arranges the event twice a year.

“We’re happy to share local history,” Thomas said.