The Strong National Museum of Play has a wealth of interaction for toddlers, school-aged children and adults.
Back when my girls were little, One History Place, Wegmans Super Kids Market, Sesame Place and Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden were the main areas we enjoyed.
The Wegmans exhibit is exciting because the kids can “shop” for their own products with carts or baskets, weigh their items, pretend to bake bread and pizza, serve sushi and coffee, and then check out their cart at the registers.
It is a great exhibit for parents and children to play together.
Inside Strong Museum of Play
From a historical perspective, the Toys Hall of Fame and the immense doll collection of Margaret Woodbury Strong are enough to keep anyone occupied for an entire day.
It will transport you back into the fun of your childhood! Collections of GI Joe and Barbie, board games, hand-held games, pinball & arcade games, Tinker Toys, dollhouses, train sets… Rochester is lucky to host such an overwhelming collection!
Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden
The butterfly garden has a separate admission fee, and is the only year-round indoor butterfly garden in upstate New York. With a rain-forest environment it’s the perfect retreat from winter!
The tickets used to be timed, but now you can enter at any time and stay for as long as you’d like.
The Pinball Playfields & Classic Arcade Games
As the girls got older, the amazing collection of video arcade and pinball machines became more of the draw.
The Strong rarely has a machine on the floor that is not in perfect condition, with staff present if a machine goes down, or steals a token. They are happy to reimburse you with a replacement token if it does happen.
Outside the Strong National Museum of Play
It’s free to explore Strong Museum’s grounds. Around the entire perimeter, and in the middle of Monroe Ave, there are engaging installations and gardens to enjoy.
Make sure to walk across the street to Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square!
More information about The Strong National Museum of Play
Cost: Admission for Museum, Butterfly exhibit is additional
Located in the City of Rochester (get directions)
More information: museumofplay.org/
Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery has an extensive permanent collection, an incredible variety of traveling exhibitions, & a well-rounded calendar of events.
The George Eastman Museum is a beautiful tribute to his life & legacy, and is the world’s oldest photography museum with one of the oldest film archives.
Rochester Museum and Science Center
Between the star shows, laser shows, interactive exhibits, and Singing Tesla Coils, the Rochester Museum and Science Center will entertain you for hours!
ARTISANworks – Where Art Lives!
I’ve heard ARTISANworks described as a walk-through kaleidoscope, a bombardment on the senses, a 360° canvas, a space that defies all boundaries.
Genesee Country Village & Museum
All summer long the Genesee Country Village and Museum hosts themed events on the weekends like Highland Days, Civil War Days, and a Fiddlers Fair.
92 Other Museums Around Rochester
Explore some lesser-know, off-the-beaten-path, and odd-collection museums around Rochester, like the ones dedicated to trains, planes, and brains!
What is your favorite spot in the Strong National Museum of Play?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!