Museum of Pinball facts for kids
| Established | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | September 2021 |
| Location | 700 S Hathaway St Banning, California, 92220 United States |
| Type | Sports museum |
The Museum of Pinball was a special place that celebrated pinball machines and other arcade games. It was a non-profit museum, meaning it didn't aim to make money but rather to preserve these fun games.
Located in Banning, California, United States, the museum first opened its doors in 2013. It was huge, covering 18 acres and having over 40,000 square feet of space. With more than 700 games on display, it was known as the largest pinball museum in the world! The museum wasn't always open to everyone. It mostly hosted special events.
Sadly, the Museum of Pinball closed in September 2021. The costs of keeping such a large collection of games in good shape became too high. All its amazing games were then sold off at an auction.
Contents
How Did the Museum Start?
The Museum of Pinball was created in 2013 by a big fan of pinball machines, John Weeks. He wanted to share his love for these classic games with others.
A World Record and Special Events
In January 2015, the museum achieved something amazing. The Guinness Book of World Records officially recognized it for having the most people playing pinball at the same time! That same year, the museum became part of the Palm Springs Modernism Week events. It was called Retro Pinball Mania and was a big hit.
Why Did the Museum Close?
By 2020, the museum faced a big challenge. The cost of storing all its games was getting too expensive. The organization tried to find a larger space in Palm Springs to move its collection.
The Search for a New Home
They found a property they liked, but it was sold to someone else. The money and time needed to fix up a new building, plus the ongoing storage costs, were more than the museum could afford.
The Auction of the Collection
In June 2021, the museum announced that it might have to sell some of its machines. This was to help save money on storage. They needed more funding quickly, but they couldn't get it in time. So, in July 2021, the museum announced it would close down. Auctions to sell off the collection happened in the following months, starting in September 2021. Many pinball machines sold for very high prices. This was partly because some collectors were buying them, hoping their value would increase, similar to how some old video games became very expensive around that time.
See Also
- Pinball museum (disambiguation), Alameda, CA
- Pinball Hall of Fame (disambiguation)
