Is there a Classic Gaming Museum (actual physical location)?

[Anotherfluke]

I could have sworn I heard something about an actual classic gaming museum out there somewhere, but I haven't seen anything about one, and I can't seem to find anything online. Does anyone know if there is such a space out in the real world?

[lendelin]

I know of only one, that is the "Museum fuer Computerspiele" in Berlin. (Museum of Computergames) The museum covers not only computergames, but also console games.

Here is a link:

http://www.computerspielemuseum.de/index.html

Here is a link about their exhibitions in different cities:

http://www.computerspielemuseum.de/ausstellung.html

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I'll send you my address, Nate. LOL

No, seriously, there should be. And there should be abundant audiovisual displays to accompany every "specimen." And I should be the guy hired to put those together. ;)

[Anotherfluke]

I could've sworn I heard something that happened in a very non-video-gamey place like eastern washington state or Idaho. I know that Twin Galaxies is in Idaho. My head swims!

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I think I remember what you're talking about - that someone was trying to buy the land and get it zoned or somesuch. Ring a bell?

[rolenta]

There used to be one in St Louis but it closed something like 10 years ago,

[Anotherfluke]

For those who are interested, this was the only one I could find:

http://www.barbican.org.uk/gallery/gameon.htm

The Barbican gallery in London, UK has a touring exhibit called Game On (website, www.gameonweb.co.uk, is strangely down) that is currently at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, then is going to San Jose from Sep. to Jan.'06, then Seattle from May. to Sep.'06, then back to london from Sep. to Feb.'07.

[Dobie]

There was an article about it in my local paper a year or so ago. Twin Galaxies was looking to purchase an abandoned Costco building in Boise, ID and convert it into a videogame museum. The idea was mocked by most people on this board, mainly because of its proposed location. I haven't seen anything about it since, and to this day, the Costco remains vacant.

[Anotherfluke]

it looks like The Electronics Conservancy, Inc. (the parent group of videotopia), has been very quiet lately. Anyone know if they are still working on anything other than videotopia?

[dreams]

There is a small portion of an exhibit in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan and it's not really supposed to be a video game exhibit.

The concept behind the exhibit is that of a time capsule - watching how things progressed through history. There were several video-game related entries into this timeline.

Nothing worth making a trip to see, unless you have a strong desire to see the rest of the museum or Greenfield Village, but it is there.

[ChickLi]

There is currently an exhibit called "Game On" at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Though I couldn't find exact dates, I've heard that this exhibit is supposed to run through the summer. Admission is $5 plus the general admission fee to the museum ($4 if you have a museum membership).

Their website is pretty neat. It features an online "mini-exhibit" of the history of videogames with a tour and gallery, a list of all the games on display at the exhibit, and a quiz you can take to test your knowledge of videogaming history. You can check it out here (http://www.msichicago.org/gameon/index.html).

[Ed Oscuro]

There is a small portion of an exhibit in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan ...

Nothing worth making a trip to see, unless you have a strong desire to see the rest of the museum or Greenfield Village, but it is there.
That's a great place to go visit for the vehicles - just about any old machine you can think of is there, hell, they've got a huge collection of locomotives...just locomotives! The infamous JFK limousine is there as well. If I recall they've got Daniel Webster's house on-site as well.

Don't go in thinking that prices on food will be good, though. We're talking $20 for a filled pastry meal...per person (I don't think I'm too low there). Plan on eating outside the museum!

And now, back to your scheduled program...

[Flack]

There used to be one in St Louis but it closed something like 10 years ago,

Sure enough. That was the The National Coin-Op and Video Game Museum, which closed in 1994. There is a cool virtual tour of the place HERE (http://coinop.org/features/coinopmuseum).

[Anotherfluke]

Wow there is a lot of good history here! thanks for the links; if anyone has any more please post them!