The LEGO LEGOLAND theme, introduced in the 1970s and continuing into the 1980s, comprised sets that replicated everyday scenes, vehicles, and buildings in a more simplistic style than later themes. These sets, pre-dating the minifigure era, were designed to represent various aspects of life, from towns to vehicles to castles. The LEGOLAND theme was foundational in the evolution of LEGO, bridging the gap between basic brick building and the more themed, narrative-driven sets that would become standard in subsequent years.
1976 LEGO Sets
In 1976, LEGO released several new sets and themes, including the LEGO Police theme, which introduced models of police cars, motorcycles, and police stations. 1976 was also the year that LEGO introduced the LEGO Basic Building Set, which included a selection of basic bricks in various colors and shapes, as well as instruction booklets with ideas for building projects. Other notable sets and themes released by LEGO in 1976 included the LEGO Space theme, which expanded upon the Space sets released in previous years, and the LEGO Trains theme, which introduced new electric train models.