Information
Landmark: Strong National Museum of PlayCity: Rochester
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, USA New York, North America
Overview
In Rochester, New York, the Strong National Museum of Play invites visitors to dive into every kind of play, from vintage arcade games buzzing with lights to hands-on exhibits that spark curiosity.In 2023, the museum opened a sweeping 90,000‑square‑foot expansion, cementing its place among the nation’s largest and most hands‑on museums, where visitors can wander through bright new galleries and touch real artifacts.Main exhibits and must-see attractions, starting with the first.ESL Digital Worlds High Score hosts the World Video Game Hall of Fame, celebrating legendary games that left their mark on the industry and shaped gaming culture-think of the pixel glow from classics that still inspire players today.Level Up: Step into a life-sized video game where you’re the hero, dodging obstacles and tackling challenges that pull you right into the action.Age of Empires dives into the history of video games and their cultural impact, with artifacts you can examine up close and displays you can touch and explore.Number two.Created with Hasbro, the Game Park invites visitors to play giant versions of classic board games, including an 18‑foot dragon from Dungeons & Dragons that spits bursts of flame.Giant candy canes from Candy Land stretch overhead, their stripes twisting like ribbons in the sun.A spinner from The Game of Life you can actually ride, with its bright plastic arrow clicking under your weight.A towering Scottie dog from Monopoly, its shiny metal coat catching the light.Three.Play Pals takes you on a journey through three centuries of American history, following the changing faces of dolls, action figures, toy soldiers, and plush animals-right down to a worn teddy with one missing button eye.One highlight is a life‑size dollhouse, complete with a tiny kitchen smelling faintly of vanilla, a cozy nursery, a bright garden, and even a family car parked out front.At the GUND Teddy Bear Check-Up, visitors measure, weigh, and check the vital signs of their beloved plush friends-sometimes even listening for a tiny heartbeat.Stations you can explore, packed with toy soldiers, superhero figures, and roaring, sharp-toothed dinosaurs.A cozy corner for dress-up, with flowing gowns and sparkling accessories.You’ll find rare treasures here, from Thomas Edison’s eerie talking doll to a soft, well-loved Steiff bear.Number four stood alone, crisp and clear like chalk on a blackboard.At Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden-the biggest indoor butterfly haven in New York-you’ll wander among thousands of butterflies drifting through warm, humid air and bright tropical blooms.Five.Skyline Climb is a thrilling ropes course where visitors tackle swinging bridges, towering platforms, and other obstacles, pushing themselves while having a blast and staying active.In June 2023, The Strong National Museum of Play opened a sweeping 90,000‑square‑foot addition, the centerpiece of a $75 million effort to energize downtown Rochester’s “Neighborhood of Play.” At its heart is the new Welcome Atrium, with hands‑on exhibits, vivid signs, and a soaring glass‑walled ceiling that floods the space with daylight and casts a warm glow across the plaza after dark.The expanded exhibit now offers more than 24,000 square feet for electronic games, plus another 17,000 square feet outdoors where visitors can explore how board games have shaped play over the years.Outdoor plazas, like Riedman Commons and Riedman Plaza, offer extra room where visitors can relax and enjoy the open air.The parking garage, built in phase one of the project, offers plenty of covered spots where visitors can pull in out of the rain.By 2026, the expansion should draw nearly a million visitors a year-well above the pre-pandemic peak of 600,000, when the galleries still echoed with weekend crowds.We’re open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays you can linger until 8, when the lights glow warm against the evening sky.General admission costs $25, and kids or seniors pay less-think a few dollars off the ticket price.You can choose from special packages, with options like stepping into the Butterfly Garden or tackling the Skyline Climb under the open sky.Right in downtown Rochester, the museum’s easy to reach, and there’s plenty of parking-just steps from the front doors.
