Press Release

War Toys: Ukraine, an exhibit exploring the impact of armed conflict on children, is now open at The Strong National Museum of Play. The Strong is the first museum to host this groundbreaking exhibit, designed by ExhibitsUSA. War Toys: Ukraine provides a unique opportunity for guests to see the power of children’s creativity and resilience through play.

Featuring a wide range of artwork and creations by Ukrainian children, photographed by renowned photographer Brian McCarty, the exhibition provides a glimpse into their lives, dreams, and the impact of war on their communities. Additionally, heartfelt stories and personal accounts from the children and their families offer a moving and informative experience.

“The Strong is honored to be the first museum to host the War Toys: Ukraine exhibition,” says Steve Dubnik, president & CEO of The Strong. “This exhibit is a call to action, raising awareness about the lasting impact of armed conflict on the youngest among us. It will serve as a testament to the resilience of these children and a reminder that we must stand with them in solidarity.”

The War Toys: Ukraine exhibit provides a window into the experiences of children who have been impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. Guests will see 30 of these children’s drawings, such as Rainbow, depicting a bright and happy future centered around a solider who has returned home from war, and The Very, Very Beginning, a memory from a young 6-year-old girl and her brother watching cartoons when Russia had invaded Ukraine.

The Strong is also proud to partner with the Ukrainian Federal Credit Union to bring War Toys: Ukraine to the Rochester community.

The exhibit remains on view through March 16 and is included with general admission fees.

About The Strong

The Strong is the only collections-based museum in the world devoted solely to play. It is home to the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the National Toy Hall of Fame, the World Video Game Hall of Fame, the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, Woodbury School, and the American Journal of Play and houses the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of historical materials related to play.

Known widely as the nation’s museum of play, The Strong blends the best features of both history museums (extensive collections) and children’s museums (high interactivity) to explore the ways in which play encourages learning, creativity, and discovery and illuminates cultural history.

Independent and not-for-profit, The Strong is located in Rochester, New York, where it collects and cares for hundreds of thousands of objects including toys, dolls, board games, video games, other electronic games, and other objects that illuminate the meaning and importance of play. Together, these materials enable a multifaceted array of research, exhibition, and other interpretive activities that serve a diverse audience of adults, families, children, students, teachers, scholars, collectors, and others around the globe.