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 […]
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:
Raceway Arcade
Opens March 23, 2024
Play your way through the history of electronic driving games and learn about America’s long fascination with the need for speed in Raceway Arcade. Start your engine and zip through the evolution of driving games in this highly interactive and artifact-rich exhibit designed for racing enthusiasts of all ages.
Produced by The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games.
Playable machines in Raceway Arcade require purchased tokens. Money collected from the sale of tokens helps maintain these original artifacts.
(Note: Arcade games […]
Material Girl
Inside the Closet of America’s Favorite Doll
Examples from the 1960s, such as Twist ‘n Turn Barbie, Sophisticated Lady, and Little Bow Pink, that showcase Barbie’s early style and elegance
Versions from the 1970s, from Silver Blues to Roller Skating Barbie, that reflect the loosening of the dress code and the counterculture movement
Dolls with the bold styles and bright colors of the 1980s, such as Lilac and Lovely, and that speak to historical moments from the decade, such as Astronaut Barbie
Examples that […]