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 […]
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 […]
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.
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 […]
Age of Empires
Explore the game-changing series Age of Empires in the Suzanne & Tony Goodman Gallery. Celebrate the art, music, settings, and gameplay of Age of Empires, and learn how the creators reimagined the rise of civilizations as a compelling strategy game that allowed players to grow populations, gather resources, develop technologies, and conquer rivals.
Age of Empires is on view in the Suzanne & Tony Goodman Gallery.
Learn about SNAP and other museum admission discounts.
Hasbro Game Park
Jump into the game at the 17,000-square-foot, outdoor Hasbro Game Park!
Before heading outside, learn more about the history and cultural influence of board games in Hasbro Board Game Place. Play a 15-foot-high version of Chutes and Ladders, and view unique artifacts from Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, Jenga, Scrabble, the Game of Life, and Simon.
Once outside, stroll along a colorful path amid towering Candy Land candy canes, giant Scrabble tiles spelling “PLAY,” and a 14-foot-long Scottie dog from Monopoly. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Pinball Playfields
Immerse yourself in the pops, thumps, and dings of pinball and play your way through more than 80 years of pinball history at the original Pinball Playfields exhibit at The Strong museum. Trace the evolution of the playfield—the surface where the ball ricochets through a maze of lights and obstacles to rack up points—from countertop games of the 1930s to sophisticated, electronic versions that remain popular today.
Produced by The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games.
Playable machines in […]