The LEGO Group began in the early 20th century when Ole Kirk Christiansen purchased a woodwork shop in Denmark and began producing miniature wooden designs. He later called the company LEGO, meaning "play well" in Danish. In the late 1940s and 1950s, LEGO began producing plastic bricks and became popular among children. The company continued expanding its product lines and opened Legoland parks. It is now one of the largest toy companies in the world.