The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York announced the opening of an original new exhibit celebrating the 50-year history and influence of the iconic Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) role-playing game.
Beginning September 21 on the museum’s main floor, visitors can embark on a journey through the world of D&D. Explore the game’s creation, its impact on other games, and the iconic characters and monsters that have captivated players for generations.
In an exclusive interview with Toy Tales, Jon-Paul Dyson, Sr. Vice President for Exhibits and Interpretive Resources at The Strong, shared, “For more than 50 years, Dungeons & Dragons has inspired players, influenced popular culture, and shaped the tabletop game and video game industries. The Strong began collecting Dungeons & Dragons materials more than two decades ago, and in 2023, we started planning an exhibit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this iconic roleplaying and share its rich history with our guests from all over the world.”
He continues, “Dungeons & Dragons: 50 Years of Storytelling will introduce new players to the game — but also captivate veteran players with rare artifacts, art, prototypes, and unique interactive elements that tell the story of this transformative game.”
Highlights of the exhibit include:
- A timeline of the game’s development: Discover the evolution of D&D from its humble beginnings to its global phenomenon.
- The influence of D&D: Explore how D&D has inspired video games and other media.
- Rare artifacts and prototypes: See firsthand the original D&D and the first Dragon magazine sent to co-creator Gary Gygax.
- Interactive experiences: Take a character quiz to determine your class and explore how characters level up and gain skills and play classic D&D-inspired video games such as Gauntlet and Legend of Zelda.
- The importance of dice: Discover the crucial role dice play in D&D and see handmade, ceramic dice created for legendary video game designer Richard Garriott.
- The art of storytelling: Dive into the storytelling aspects of D&D and see related clips from popular films, television, and other games.
- Become a dungeon master: Learn about the role of dungeon masters in bringing adventures to life and test your skills with a 5-minute campaign.
The Strong also hosts ticketed events to complement the exhibit. This includes special opening-weekend programming on September 21 and 22, a Painting D&D Miniatures and Basing workshop on September 21, and the Learn to Play D&D workshop on October 12. Learn more about The Strong’s workshops and ticketed events.
Dungeons & Dragons: 50 Years of Storytelling is presented in partnership with Wizards of the Coast and WizKids. The exhibit runs through January 5, 2025.
Learn more about The Strong National Museum of Play.
