The Strong National Museum of Play
The Strong is a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of play.
The Strong is Upstate New York's largest cultural attraction, featuring two floors and 100,000 square feet of interactive exhibit space, and it houses the world’s largest collection of play-related artifacts (more than 500,000!) There is also a butterfly garden onsite, gift shop, food court, and a 1950’s vintage Skyliner Diner. The exhibits range in subjects but feature an array of artifacts, research, and interactive activities. What makes The Strong so unique is its of-of-a-kind collections, including the first Charles Darrow Monopoly set, Thomas Edison’s Talking Doll, Barbie #1, and so much more! Through a blend of rare artifacts and hands-on activities, guests of all ages learn how play influenced America’s cultural history. You can explore the exhibits on your own or with a one-hour guided tour from an expert, exploring different spaces such as the Academy of Interactive Arts and Science, America at Play, American Comic Book Heroes: The Battle of Good vs. Evil, Rainbow Reef Aquariums, Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden, the Elaine Wilson Carousel, Field of Play, eGameRevolution, Game Time!, Pinball Playfields, Women In Games, and much more.
The Strong is also home to the following programs and related areas:
- National Toy Hall of Fame: See the 71 toys that have made it into the Hall of Fame so far, from Alphabet Blocks to Wiffle Ball!
- World Video Game Hall of Fame: The best of the best in the video game world, featuring arcade, console, mobile, and computer games, such as the iconic Super Mario Bros, Pong, Grand Theft Auto, and World of Warcraft.
- International Center for the History of Electronic Games: The onsite research center that studies and interprets the history of gaming.
