National Pinball Museum coming to Washington, DC this Fall

Grantman

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National Pinball Museum coming to Washington, DC this Fall

I'm on the mailing list for the National Pinball Museum and received this last month. I didn't see anything posted on the forums here about what I consider to be pretty big news in the pinball world so I thought I'd copy the email here. This is the same guy from Maryland that has 800+ games, many stored in a building behind his house (discussed here: http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=116405)

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Dear Friend of Pinball,

Pinball machines have captured American and international folklore and pop culture with games depicting every change in our society from fashion and music, to headlines and Hollywood, to national pastimes and international wars. At National Pinball Museum (http://www.nationalpinballmuseum.org) you can explore the 140-year history of pinball under one roof—that is, if you help us open our doors this fall.

National Pinball Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the art, history and heritage of pinball. For years we have worked to build a collection of over 850 machines from every era, to share our vision with the community, and to design and fine-tune a museum program that incorporates historic, technical and cultural education. Today, we are just weeks away from realizing a dream that has been 25 years in the making: the creation of a unique, accessible and interactive environment where people of all ages can embrace the art and pastime of pinball.

Located in the heart of historic Georgetown at The Shops at Georgetown Park in Washington, DC, our new facility features over 14,000 square feet dedicated to pinball. There you will find:

* interactive exhibits, including a permanent exhibit that chronicles the full history of pinball and revolving exhibits that educate visitors on the historical significance of individual machines, as well as various pinball artists, themes and eras;
* a "Pay-to-Play" Area where visitors can play machines from all periods;
* traveling exhibits available to schools, arts organizations and museums across the country;
* illuminated Backglass art exhibits;
* hands-on demonstrations and lecture series;
* workshops on restoration, fabrication, cabinetry, graphic arts concepts and techniques, and both electro-mechanical and computer-based theory and application;
* after-school curricula to engage and inform youth and families;
* a theater showing short educational films on pinball;
* a gift shop featuring pinball and museum memorabilia; and
* a library and database of pinball periodicals, books, magazines, and schematics

We've already received over $1 million in support. Now, we're counting on you to help us raise the final $150,000 we need to make our new facility a reality!

There was a time when nearly everyone could find a pinball machine at just about every corner store or diner. Children and adults alike could buy hours of enjoyment with the change in their pockets. While pinball enthusiasts, clubs and collectors continue to keep the pastime alive, machines are increasingly harder to come by. And, with new machines retailing for thousands of dollars, pinball is at serious risk of existing only in the memories of baby boomers, and in the private collections of those with considerable financial means. By making a donation to National Pinball Museum today, you can be a part of our work to ensure that children and adults have the opportunity to experience and appreciate the rich art and heritage of pinball for many years to come.

Perhaps you remember digging deep in your pockets for change to play your favorite pinball game as a child. Well, we're asking you to dig deep once again – this time to make history by helping us open the country's first national museum dedicated to pinball.

Whether your tax-deductible donation is $10, $1,000 or more, you can make a difference. Simply click here to make your donation online today (http://www.nationalpinballmuseum.org/sponsorship/). With your donation, you will help inspire a love and appreciation not only of pinball, but also of art, history and American culture among thousands of children and adults who will visit National Pinball Museum each year. More importantly, you will help us give hundreds of low-income youth the means and opportunity to transition out of poverty by providing training in electronics, technology, carpentry, machine restoration and visual arts through our education program.

We welcome you to visit us online for the latest information about our Grand Opening and our various programs. And, we look forward to welcoming you to the Museum this fall.

Sincerely,

David F. Silverman
Executive Director and Curator

P.S. You can make an even bigger difference by becoming a Tilt Donor, donating a machine, sponsoring an exhibit, or hosting an event at National Pinball Museum. Give us a call at 301-384-3802 for more information.
 
This sounds amazing. I will definitely make a donation and visit. Now if we can get that high speed rail from Richmond to DC...
 
Update

The National Pinball Museum is opening in a few weeks (12/4/2010)! Update received from email list is below. Regular hours will be Thursday-Saturday 10-8, Sunday 12-6.

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National Pinball Museum will host our Grand Opening at our new
14,000 square foot facility dedicated exclusively to pinball on Saturday, December 4th
from 10 am - 8 pm. Visitors will enjoy tours, live music and door prizes,
and will have a chance to play 40 featured games in our Pay-to-Play Area.

The Museum is located on the street level, inside The Shops at Georgetown Park,
3222 M Street, NW, Washington DC. Admission: $13.50 (ages 9 and up);
Annual Pass (unlimited admission for one year) - $80.00.

Founded in 1998, National Pinball Museum is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization
dedicated to preserving and promoting the art and history of pinball.
Administrative Office: 301.384.3802
Museum: 202.337.1100
Website: www.nationalpinballmuseum.org

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A previous email update also had a list of some games that will be in the Pay-to-Play room:


For all of you out there just itching to play, here is an abbreviated list of what will be available to play:

* Rare "one of a kind" High Speed (Williams 1986) —You'll never see another one like it
* Addams Family Special (Gold) Edition (Bally 1994)
* Black Hole (Gottlieb 1981)
* Banzai Run (Williams, 1988)
* Earthshaker (Williams, 1989)
* Lights...Camera...Action! (Gottlieb, 1989)
* Funhouse (Williams 1990)
* Creature from the Black Lagoon (Bally 1992)
* Twilight Zone (Bally 1993)
* Indiana Jones (Williams 1993)
* Guns and Roses (Data East 1994)
* Stargate (Gottlieb 1995)
* WHO Dunnit (Bally 1995)
* Safe Cracker (Bally 1996)
* Barb Wire (Gottlieb 1996)
* Big Bang Bar (Capcom 1996)
* King Pin (Capcom 1996)
* Revenge from Mars (Bally 1999)
* Black Knight (Williams 1980)
* Star Trek: The Next Generation (Williams 1993)
* Queen of Hearts (Gottlieb 1952)
* Sittin Pretty (Gottlieb 1958)
* Nine Sisters (Williams 1953)
* Grand Slam (Gottlieb 1953)
* Green Pastures (Gottlieb 1954)
 
Cool... great to hear it's opening soon! I'll have to make a trip out there sometime. Am I correct in that it's going to be a "museum" though? As in... admission gets you in to "see" the games, but the only place you get to play them is in the "pay to play" area, where there's only a small selection (relative to the museum), and you still have to pay to play the game?

DogP
 
Cool... great to hear it's opening soon! I'll have to make a trip out there sometime. Am I correct in that it's going to be a "museum" though? As in... admission gets you in to "see" the games, but the only place you get to play them is in the "pay to play" area, where there's only a small selection (relative to the museum), and you still have to pay to play the game?

DogP

That's what it sounds like. They initially have "40 featured games in our Pay-to-Play Area."

Yeah, it's not the kind of place you'd be visiting every week to play the games since you have to pay an admission fee for the museum.

I'm going to try to go in December and post some photos here.
 
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