Strong National Museum of Play
The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, is one of the world’s biggest and best places to learn about play. The museum’s goal is to inspire, teach, and learn about play, and its collection has more than 500,000 items that have something to do with play or being playful. From classic board games and dolls to video games and interactive exhibits, The Strong is a fascinating look at the world of play, both in the past and the present.
The museum was started in 1968 by a Rochester philanthropist and collector named Margaret Woodbury Strong. She was interested in the history and culture of play, so she gave money to start the museum. Strong started collecting toys and games when she was young, and by the time she died in 1969, she had over 40,000 items in her collection. Strong left her collection to the people of Rochester in her will, with the condition that it be used to make a play museum. Since it opened to the public in 1982, the Strong National Museum of Play has become one of Rochester’s most popular places to visit.
The sheer size of The Strong’s collection is one of the things that stands out the most. Visitors can look at displays about everything from classic toys and games to the history of video games. These displays include Barbie dolls, LEGO sets, vintage arcade cabinets, and digital displays that visitors can interact with. The museum also has the National Toy Hall of Fame, which honors toys and games that have had a big impact on American culture and are known all over the world. Every year, new toys and games are added to the Hall of Fame. The Magic 8 Ball, Uno, and the Fisher-Price Little People are just a few examples of recent additions.
In addition to its impressive collection, The Strong has many hands-on exhibits and activities that are meant to make people of all ages creative and playful. In the museum’s Build, Drive, Go exhibit, kids can look around a life-sized dollhouse, play dress-up in a copy of a 1950s diner, or build their own LEGO creations. Adults can play arcade games from the past or look at displays about the history of board games and puzzles. Throughout the year, the museum also has a number of educational programs and events, such as workshops on making games and family-friendly events like the annual Fairy House Festival.
The fact that The Strong shows how games have changed over time may be one of its most interesting parts. From stick-and-ball games and other early games to the rise of video games, the museum gives a fascinating look at how play has changed and grown over the years. The museum’s displays on the history of video games, for example, show how gaming has grown from a niche hobby to a multi-billion dollar industry. The displays include everything from classic arcade games to modern console systems.
Even though The Strong has a lot of interesting collections and educational programs, it is also a place that just loves to play. Visitors of all ages can find something to make them curious and creative, like playing a round of miniature golf on the museum’s indoor course or exploring the world of make-believe in the Imagination Destination exhibit. The museum’s interactive exhibits and hands-on activities make it a great place for families to spend a day, and its educational programs and research initiatives mean that it will continue to be a valuable resource for the study of play for years to come.
In conclusion, The Strong National Museum of Play is a unique and interesting museum that has something for everyone. It has a large collection of toys, games, and other items related to play. It also has interactive exhibits and educational programs that make it a great place to learn about the history and culture of play. The Strong is a great place to go if you are a child, a parent, or just someone who likes to play.