Amusing the Zillion

National Pinball Museum Set to Open in Baltimore on January 14. NPM Photo

Last summer, Washington’s D.C.’s National Pinball Museum invited pinball fans to “come out and play until the flippers fall off” after losing their lease at a Georgetown shopping mall. Now the relocated museum is set to open in downtown Baltimore on January 14.

Pinball collector David Silverman’s 12,000-square-foot museum houses a collection of over 100 pinball machines, including a 19th century pinball precursor, vintage woodrail games and modern, solid-state machines.

“Education is a big part of the museum,” says Silverman, whose background is in art, education, and landscape design. Over the past 30 years, he has amassed a collection of more than 800 pinball machines. The Museum was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1998. “We have a walk-through exhibit of different types of games, so people can get a sense of pinball’s rich history,” the collector told ATZ.

Exhibit at National Pinball Museum. NPM Photo

There’s also a “Pinhead Gallery” where visitors can play up to 40 machines. Admission tickets include full access to the exhibits and range from “Special When Lit” with unlimited play for $13 to “Replay” featuring two hours of play. The museum is currently offering 35% off admission and annual passes if purchased by January 13. Regular hours of operation will be posted on the museum’s website and Facebook page.

National Pinball Museum, 608 Water Street, Baltimore, 21202. Phone 443-438-1236

UPDATE March 4, 2013:

The National Pinball Museum closed its doors on March 3, 2013. A statement issued by the museum’s founder and executive director David Silverman said: “After such a successful year, everyone at the Museum was looking forward to continuing our tournaments, educational programs and interactive exhibits in our current location for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we were unable to negotiate favorable terms with our landlord to extend our rental agreement without creating an extreme financial strain on the Museum’s limited resources.”

Pinhead Gallery at National Pinball Museum. January 2012. NPM Photo

Related posts on ATZ...

March 30, 2014: Spring Reading: “Automatic Pleasures: The History of the Coin Machine”

November 29, 2011: Fascination: From Coney Island to Nantasket Beach

August 15, 2011: Games: Where You Can Play Vintage Pinball Year Round

October 6, 2010: Traveler: Where You Can Play Fascination Year Round