Museum Exhibits

Online

That’s Just How We Roll: A History of the International Gay Bowling Organization

Gay and lesbian bowlers seeking fellowship and fun formed the International Gay Bowling Organization in 1980. Decades later, it is the largest LGBTQ+ sports association anywhere.

Online

Jerry Lawson: The Black Engineer and Entrepreneur Who Changed Video Games

Gerald “Jerry” Lawson changed the way we play by leading the creation of the video game cartridge and founding game developer company Video Soft.

Permanent

Play Lab

Now Open! Invent, construct, and create in The Strong’s 800-square-foot Play Lab on the museum’s first floor (near the Field of Play exhibit). Unlock the educational power of play and enter a playful maker space with daily programming based around monthly themes. Every month be introduced to a new topic of inquiry such as printmaking, sound, and circuitry. Gain scaffolding assistance from museum staff and guest creators. Experiment with related tools and equipment such as looms, saws, and Oculus. Take time […]

Online

Is that a Jumeau?

A century before Mattel’s Barbie graced miniature runways, the dollmaker Jumeau provided girls with stylish play companions that showcased French couture and innovation.

Permanent

Skyline Climb

Are you ready for the challenge? Jump into the realm of adventure play at The Strong’s all-new high ropes course—Skyline Climb. Suspended above the museum’s carousel atrium, adults and kids alike can traverse beams and balance obstacles, maneuver ropes and wobbly bridges, and leap off a zipline platform. Built by RCI Adventure Products, Skyline Climb consists of two courses geared towards different sizes and skill levels—the Low-Rise Course Powered by M&T Bank for guests below 48 inches in height and the High-Rise for guests 48 […]

Online

Video Game History Timeline

Explore the history of video games, understand how the industry began and evolved, and discover the impact that electronic games have had on how people play, learn, and connect with each other. See the video game timeline.

Permanent

Toy Halls of Fame

Experience the cutting-edge Toy Halls of Fame exhibit and go hands-on with iconic toys beloved by generations—and the people who changed how we play. Displays featuring The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame inductees pair with displays highlighting toy industry luminaries recognized by the Toy Association’s Toy Industry Hall of Fame. National Toy Hall of Fame Climb the dramatic exhibit staircase and view a gallery of 21 portraits of classic toys, some that move and interact with guests in humorous ways. Marvel at a […]

Online

Ten Sports Video Games that Changed the Digital Playing Field

Sports video games empower us to play as our favorite athletes, compete against our friends, and defeat our opponents with gravity-defying dunks, 90-yard touchdown sprints, and other fantastic feats most of us can only dream of.

Online

Five Board Games that Changed Play

Over the last 200 years, board games have brought us together with delightful new forms of play that entertain, educate, and (occasionally) exasperate us.