The Strong National Museum of Play has a wealth of interaction for toddlers, school-aged children and adults.
NEW! Parking information from The Strong National Museum of Play website:
A portion of The Strong’s parking garage is now available to guests free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Full use of the garage is expected to be open in January 2020. Details and fees to come.
Guests access the museum’s parking garage via Howell Street. Please note that on high visitation days the museum garage may reach capacity. Additional parking is available at neighboring municipal garages for a fee. The Strong is not responsible for fees incurred at off-site locations. Parking in The Strong’s garage is restricted to museum guest use only. Unauthorized cars may be towed at the owner’s expense. Overnight parking and tailgating are not permitted
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/
NEW! Parking: From the website, A portion of The Strong’s parking garage is now available to guests free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Full use of the garage is expected to be open in January 2020. Details and fees to come.
Guests access the museum’s parking garage via Howell Street. Please note that on high visitation days the museum garage may reach capacity. Additional parking is available at neighboring municipal garages for a fee. The Strong is not responsible for fees incurred at off-site locations. Parking in The Strong’s garage is restricted to museum guest use only. Unauthorized cars may be towed at the owner’s expense. Overnight parking and tailgating are not permitted.
As of October 15, 2019 the only parking at the museum will be in the garage. The existing surface lots will become construction zones for a mix of housing and retail businesses.
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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!