Step Inside The New Pinball Wonderland In Chicago

One of the most popular video games of all time is the pinball machine, and Illinois is now home to a playable pinball museum for all of the Pinball Wizards out there.

A New Playable Pinball Museum Just Opened In Chicago

When I was growing up, my dad wouldn't let me hook up a gaming system to our TV, so I didn't have Atari, Intertelevision, or even Pong. If I wanted to play video games, I had to go to a friend's house or a game room. I would save my quarters to hit the game room at the mall. My parents had a favorite restaurant in town for dinner on Friday nights. It was a small place, so we usually had to wait. To keep me busy, my dad would give me a couple of bucks to play pinball. I immediately got hooked on the game.

READ MORE: Illinois Welcomes The Midwest's Biggest Pinball Arcade 

According to The Flip Museum...

Chicago has been the center of the pinball industry since the 1930s. The Flip celebrates this legacy through hands-on exhibits, restored machines, and educational programs that inspire the next generation of pinball enthusiasts.

 

Joe Scarnici, Getty Images

Did you know Chicago has a long history with pinball? Back in the day, almost every pinball machine was made in the Windy City. The video game revolution in the 1980s was almost the death of pinball, but it made a comeback, and pinball is bigger and better than ever. Now, many Classic Rock bands even have their own signature games. Plus, pinball-only game rooms have opened throughout Illinois.

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Something really cool just opened in Chicago for pinball fans. Recently, The Flip just opened. It's a playable pinball museum to teach enthusiasts about the history, art, science, and technology of the popular game. This is an interactive museum, so there are currently 29 pinball machines available to play for free. I can't wait to check it out.