Dive into the past and explore more than 300 years of play and pastimes in America at Play—a permanent exhibit at The Strong. Through a blend of rare artifacts and hands-on activities, learn how play influenced America’s cultural history:
- Explore America’s favorite outdoor pastimes, such as biking, boating, sledding, skiing, and fishing.
- View rare board games from the 1800s, such as the Game of the American Revolution, Rough Riders, and Bicycle Race.
- Encounter a Charlie Chaplin doll, a Charley McCarthy ventriloquist dummy, and Mickey Mouse characters from the early 1900s.
- View the first handmade Monopoly set by Charles Darrow, who popularized the game.
- Trace the impact of World War II on toys and see a Buddy L wrecker truck made entirely from wood.
- Explore how toys have changed and stayed the same over time, and compare a toy soldier from the 1800s to a G.I. Joe action figure from the 1960s.
- See the world’s largest Erector Set—weighing more than 150 pounds!
- Challenge friends and family to a game of three-player toy trivia.
- Test your memory with a touch-screen concentration game.
Download The Strong’s Bloomberg Connects app for the America at Play audio tour with multilingual descriptions.
