Photos courtesy of The Strong National Museum of Play
The ultimate play destination in the U.S. just got a little more playful! The Strong National Museum of Play officially opened a brand new 90,000-square-foot expansion on June 30, 2023 in Rochester, NY. The Strong sits at the heart of the Neighborhood of Play, a new destination built up in the footprint of the former Inner Loop.
The Neighborhood of Play includes housing, commercial space, food and drink options (be sure to visit Fattey Beer Company and Nerdvana), and the new Hampton Inn & Suites Rochester Downtown.
Get ready for a visit to The Strong Museum with all the info on the museum’s brand new exhibits and updated spaces for play!
New Welcome Atrium
Visitors will enjoy entering the museum through the new welcome atrium which features high ceilings, colorful tile pathways and ceiling-to-floor windows. Visit the gift shop before you head home to purchase Strong memorabilia to commemorate your museum visit.
High Score
Serving as the new home of The Strong’s World Video Game Hall of Fame, High Score also includes one-of-a-kind, educational interactives that look at various aspects of gaming and making games. Here you can explore six interactive areas that examine the art, play, storytelling, business, technological, and societal aspects of video games.
Level Up
Jump into the game in video game scenarios featuring dramatic themes, ambient sound, interactives designed to be re-playable, and artifact cases displaying curated objects related to the theme and connecting video games to toys that inspired them. Here you’ll find five distinct zones based on the actions of games– Choose, Move, Create, Compete, and Solve.
Hasbro Play Garden
Play your way through the 17,000-square-foot, board-game-themed, outdoor play space. The Hasbro Play Garden encourages physical and collaborative play among guests of all ages and abilities while celebrating tabletop games that shaped how we play. Here you’ll find a wheelchair-accessible carousel spinner from the Game of Life, giant Jenga blocks, a fire-breathing five-headed dragon from Dungeons & Dragons, a 14-foot-long Scottie dog from Monopoly, and more unique items to play with.
There are limitless ways to enjoy your visit to The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY. When you visit, be sure to share your adventures with us using #VisitROC!
