Explore the cultural importance of the beloved Hello Kitty character at Hello Cutie: Our Favorite Kitty, a new exhibit open on the museum’s second floor. Learn about Hello Kitty’s origins in 1970s Japan and discover how this darling of kawaii (loosely meaning cute in Japan) became a global sensation. Through artifacts from The Strong’s collection, learn about Hello Kitty’s triumphs and widespread appeal, along with some controversies and continuing debate:
Hello Cutie: Our Favorite Kitty is produced as an educational exhibit by The Strong and has […]
SCOOBY-DOO!™ Mansion Mayhem
“Ruh-Roh” SCOOBY-DOO!™ and the gang invite families to solve a gem of a mystery when the SCOOBY-DOO!™ Mansion Mayhem exhibit opens Saturday, January 18, 2025 at The Strong National Museum of Play. This immersive experience, in partnership with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment, allows families to join the members of Mystery Inc. to analyze clues and put their problem-solving skills to the test. Families and young detectives will work through the rooms of the mansion meeting different characters from the iconic […]
Infinity Arcade
Grab the joystick and dive into the ultimate arcade experience! Play some of the most iconic arcade games of all time at the original Infinity Arcade exhibit—and explore the history of the arcade in America, from the penny arcades in the early 1900s, to the classic arcades of the 1970s and 80s, to today’s latest iterations.
Infinity Arcade is produced by The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games.
See current Arcade machines.
* While many of the games throughout the […]
Playful Putters: The History of Miniature Golf
Grab a putter and scorecard from the Putt Shack and (putt) put your skills to the test on a nine-hole, indoor minigolf course. Along the way, explore the history of the popular pastime and learn about the ways it has evolved in the United States.
Playful Putters is included with general admission. The exhibit remains on view through September 1, 2025.
Learn about SNAP and other museum admission discounts.
Hole sponsors include:
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Black Doll Designers
Learn about the pivotal role that Black designers have played in diversifying toy aisles in Black Doll Designers, open on the museum’s first floor (near The Strong Express Train).
Explore the history of toy companies founded to promote representation—such as B. Wright Toy Company, Olmec Toys, and Shindana Toys—and view key doll examples, such as:
Capturing Play
From the Collection of Photojournalist Martha Cooper
See a selection of toy cameras and figures collected by documentary photographer Martha Cooper in a new display just outside the Field of Play exhibit on the museum’s first floor. Learn about Cooper’s life and career in photography, which has included snapping pictures of urban play for more than 50 years. Then view a sampling of the more than 450 items The Strong acquired from Cooper, including a:
Console Central
Dive into the stories of the most important video game systems in history—from the Magnavox Odyssey (1972) to the Sony Playstation 5 (2020)—in Console Central, now open just outside eGameRevolution on the museum’s second floor.
Console Central is produced by The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games.
Hasbro Board Game Place
Before heading outside to the Hasbro Game Park, learn more about the history and cultural influence of board games in Hasbro Board Game Place.
Challenge friends and family to a 15-foot-high version of Chutes and Ladders and discover the game’s roots in ancient India. Then view unique artifacts and learn about the creators of other iconic games:
Hasbro Board Game Place is made possible by Alan and Vivien Hassenfeld and the Hassenfeld Family Foundation.
Play Happened Here
People have played on this spot for centuries. Through its outdoor exhibit Play Happened Here, The Strong celebrates the individuals who have lived here and the ways that play has enriched lives, built communities, and made life a whole lot more fun. The exhibit is in the Riedman Commons on Adventure Place. Guests can scan a QR code on each of five panels to explore in multiple languages and hear audio through the Bloomberg Connects app.
Pixel Landing
Come face-to-face with icons from the video game world in the Pixel Landing, at the top of the staircase in The Strong’s new wing. View statues and artistic renderings of favorite gaming characters, such as Link (from the Zelda franchise), Sonic the Hedgehog, Lara Croft (from the Tomb Raider series), Crash Bandicoot, Master Chief (from the Halo series), and Chung Li (from Street Fighter).
Then, grab the joystick of the world’s largest, playable Donkey Kong arcade machine—standing nearly 20-feet tall and […]
ESL Digital Worlds: High Score
Learn about the history and cultural importance of electronic games in ESL Digital Worlds: High Score and see how this medium has changed the way that people play and connect. At a new rotunda honoring The Strong’s World Video Game Hall of Fame, learn about some of the most influential games of all-time and play versions of them on massive, overhead screens. Explore thematic sections throughout the exhibit to learn about the art, business, play, society, story, and technology aspects […]
ESL Digital Worlds: Level Up
Ready, player! Become part of the game and immerse yourself in video game scenarios at ESL Digital Worlds: Level Up. Grab an RFID bracelet, create an avatar, and earn achievements from The Strong’s periodic table of video game elements. Enter five distinct zones based on the actions of games—Choose, Move, Create, Compete, and Solve—and play through dozens of physical and mental challenges that include:
Also, become your own curator and virtually choose gaming artifacts from “vending machines” throughout the exhibit […]