What's New

Check here periodically for news from Strong National Museum of Play. For what’s happening this week, visit our Events Calendar and Things to See & Do pages.

2010-2011 Making American Music Schedule Announced

Posted on September 2

The museum recently announced the lineup for its 2010–2011 Making American Music adult concert series. The popular series offers a variety of musical styles—from big band and rag time to folk and jazz. All performances take place on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the museum’s theater.

Tribute to Rag Time
September 15, 2010

Gentlemen of Song
October 13, 2010

Musical Adventures in Paradise
November 10, 2010

American Folk Roots
January 12, 2011

It’s Jazz, by George!
February 9, 2011

Songs of Freedom
March 16, 2011

A Salute to the USO Big Band
April 13, 2011

A Century of Song
May 11, 2011

For tickets, call 585-263-2700.

Mindbender Mansion Closing September 6

Posted on September 2

Don’t miss your chance to become a member of the Mindbender Society! Hurry and unlock the door to Mindbender Mansion, a fascinating exhibit full of brain teasers, puzzles, and interactive challenges. The exhibit closes September 6.

Strong Staff Member Contributes to New Book

Posted on July 30

Strong’s Director of Library and Archives, Carol Sandler, recently contributed a chapter to the new book Children’s Services: Partnerships for Success, edited by Betsy Diamant-Cohen. In the chapter, she describes the museum’s Grada Hopeman Gelser Library and its partnership with the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County.

Strong Curator Talks Oil Spill Board Games and Etch-A-Sketch

Posted on July 27

Curator Nicolas Rickets was recently quoted in a Tampa Tribune story about an obscure 1970s board game, Offshore Oil Strike, which has found renewed interest because of the British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf. The game allows players to take on the role of multinational companies in a quest for oil dominance.

Ricketts also appeared locally on a News Channel 8 segment to talk about the 50th birthday of the iconic Etch-A-Sketch. A member of the museum’s prestigious National Toy Hall of Fame, the Etch-A-Sketch has sold more than 150 million copies since being introduced in 1960.

Strong to Feature Local Artwork on Whimsical Trail

Posted on July 19

Take a walk along the Whimsical Art Trail from Friday, July, 23–Sunday, October 24, and enjoy the imaginative works of five local artists—Dianne Dengel, Nancy Wiley, Craig Wilson, Brian Willson, and Albert Wilson. Guests can meet Dengel, Wiley, and Craig Wilson from 1–4 p.m. on July 23.

Strong Acquires Rare and Early Version of Monopoly

Posted on July 19

Who really invented Monopoly? Strong recently acquired the second oldest known version of the game, which was used as evidence in a controversial, 10-year legal copyright battle over the iconic American game’s true inventor. The existence of this hand-drawn and colored pre-Monopoly game provided evidence that Charles Darrow—popularly credited as the game’s inventor—was not the actual inventor after all.

Celebrate Raggedy Ann’s Birthday and Share Memories Online

Posted on June 28

Celebrate Raggedy Ann’s 95th birthday at the museum on Friday, July 9. Play birthday games and at 2 p.m. meet the beloved mop top “in person.” Plus, listen to story readings and get autographs from descendents of the doll’s creator, Johnny Gruelle.

Also, beginning on July 9, share your favorite Raggedy Ann memories in a digital Scrapbook. Post your stories, upload images, and share your page through social media links and e-mail. After September 7, all registered users will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to receive a commemorative 95th Anniversary Raggedy Ann doll.

Strong Lecturer Touts iPad as an Educational Tool

Posted on June 28

What would Montessori think of the iPad? Warren Buckleitner, editor of Children’s Technology Review and founder of the Dust or Magic Institute on the Design of Children’s Interactive Media, recently spoke at the museum and argued that the famous educational scholar, Maria Montessori, would have been “ecstatically cautious” about the device. Buckleitner spoke as part of the museum’s Strong Perspectives lecture series that is supported by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences.

Work or Play?

Posted on June 24

What’s the difference between a task and a pastime? As Scott Eberle, Vice President for Interpretation, points out in the latest Play Stuff blog, it’s not always cut and dry.

ESL Sponsors Museum’s Passport to Family Fun Program

Posted on June 24

ESL Federal Credit Union has generously agreed to sponsor the museum’s Passport to Family Fun program for two years. The program provides admission to the museum for financially-challenged families receiving services through more than 40 local social-service organizations.

RIT Associate Professor Named Visiting Scholar

Posted on June 14

Steve Jacobs, Associate Professor at the Golisano College of Computing Information Science at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), has joined the museum’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games as a Visiting Scholar. Jacobs will assist in the interpretation of e-game-related collections; contribute to the CHEGheads blog; edit a themed issue on electronic play for the museum’s American Journal of Play; and assist in developing eGameRevolution, a major exhibit scheduled to open at Strong on November 20. Learn more

Mindbender Mansion Exhibit Now Open

Posted on June 1

Test your brain power and problem-solving skills when you unlock the door to the wonderfully puzzling world of Mindbender Mansion, a new exhibit now open at Strong. Explore a quirky mansion filled with puzzles, brainteasers, and interactive challenges that are sure to engage and entertain the entire family. The doors to Mindbender Mansion close September 6, 2010.