The Strong National Museum of Play
Hands-on play and a deep archive of toys and video games invite both families and curious adults to investigate how play changes.
Artwork inspired by Wendell Castle
What can toys and games reveal about everyday life? At The Strong, playable galleries sit beside a vast collection of play materials, so visitors can experiment with a game and then study its predecessors. The National Toy Hall of Fame and World Video Game Hall of Fame frame familiar objects as design, technology, and social history rather than nostalgia alone.
The museum is large enough to reward a route, especially with children. Begin with activities important to your group, then make time for collection-based displays; they distinguish this museum from a play space. Standard admission starts at $25, with discounted Friday evenings and a two-day option. The butterfly garden and ropes course keep their own hours, so check before promising either as the final stop.
- Home to
- National Toy Hall of Fame
- Also explore
- World Video Game Hall of Fame
- Weekend evenings
- Open until 8 p.m. Friday–Saturday
Quick guide
- Choose an era
- Compare a familiar toy or video game with older designs in the collection.
- Check add-on hours
- Butterfly and ropes-course schedules end before the museum on some days.
Know before you go
- Start with play
- Let a hands-on activity pose a question about design or rules.
- Find its history
- Use the collection galleries to trace a toy or game's predecessors.
- Cross generations
- Ask what the same object means to a child and an adult.
- Plan a pause
- The museum is large; leave time for a break before a second floor or wing.
Good to know
This is not only a children's playroom: its research collections and historical exhibits reward adults too. Friday evening discount and timed add-on hours can change the best route.
Notice these
- Toy Hall of Fame
- Video Game Hall of Fame
- Interactive galleries