The Strong National Museum of Play (aka The Strong Museum or the Strong) is a highly interactive, collections-based educational institution devoted to the study and exploration of – you guessed it…PLAY! It is one of the largest history museums in the United States and one of the best family, kid-friendly things to do in Rochester NY!

Established in 1969, it was based initially on the personal collection of Rochester native, Margaret Woodbury Strong. The Museum opened to the public in 1982. The Strong’s mission: collect, preserve, and interpret the history of play. Its collections (now hundreds of thousands of items) document not only pop-culture but also all aspects of play and players across time and across cultures.

The Strong hosts more than 500K visitors annually, including 30,000 schoolchildren who participate in its formal learning programs. The museum is home to the National Toy Hall of Fame, the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, and the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play and the only indoor Butterfly Garden in the region.

Upstate New York’s largest year-round cultural attraction, The Strong features four floors with nearly 400,000 square feet encompassing a children’s museum with 12 interactive exhibit areas; a world-renowned art collection; a café; a museum shop. Come visit the museum soon and learn about other things to do in Rochester NY!