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Come visit a time machine capable of briefly returning visitors to a very specific time and place in their past...the 80s video arcade!

107 S. Hamilton St, McLean, IL 61754

CURRENT HOURS:
Friday: 5:30 to 9pm
Saturday: 9am to 9pm
Other times: happily open anytime by appointment. Call John at 309-287-1725.

Relive your Past!

America's Playable Arcade Museum is more than just an arcade. It is more than just a museum. This project was conceived and built with the vision of transporting visitors back into their past to experience the euphoria that once resulted from walking into a fully-stocked arcade in 1983.

Let's face it, arcades aren't what they used to be. If you can even find one these days, they are filled with pointless simulators, redemption games, and coin-op versions of the latest playstation games.

Remember when Games were Fun?

In the early 80s, game designers had to create games that were actually FUN to play. There was no tricking gamers with cool cut-scenes, or just wowing them with 3-D graphics and awesome sound. If the game itself wasn't fun, it bombed.

At America's Playable Arcade Museum we have assembled many of the FUNNEST games of the 1970s and 1980s, restored them to their original glory, and put them in a cool arcade building to be experienced as originally intended.

While we will have rotating exhibits featuring oddball, prototype, and super- rare game titles, our primary focus is on the classics that everyone remembers and likes to play.

Make a Donation

Given the current state of the amusement industry and the economy in general, survival of this museum is not a certainty. If you are unable to visit and help us survive through the insertion of your quarters into our games, but still have a passion for classic games and want to see us survive - please consider sending us a donation.

We are not (yet) an official non-profit organization so you cannot receive a tax deduction for your contributions. But I assure you we are a non-profit organization in every other way...if you know what I mean.

Please send your donation either via PayPal to: donations@vintagevideogames.com

Mail donations to:
America's Playable Arcade Museum
PO Box 49
McLean, IL 61754

We have already received several donations and I can honestly tell you that every donation, no matter how small (or large) is appreciated. The support of the videogame collecting and preservation community has been strong and very encouraging.

When are we open?

CURRENT HOURS:
Friday: 5:30 to 9pm
Saturday: 9am to 9pm
Other times: happily open anytime by appointment. Call John at 309-287-1725.

Where is the Museum?

The museum is located at 107 Hamilton Street in downtown McLean, IL. We are on historic Route 66 and just off Interstate 55 at exit 145. We are exactly halfway between Chicago and St. Louis.

There is plenty of free parking for the museum. Snacks and drinks are available in vending machines just outside the museum. Dining is available at McDonalds, Subway, and Stuckeys - all just a few blocks away.

Admission:

Currently NO admission charged. We do have a donation box onsite, so those interested in helping us survive can do so. At some point, we may have a nominal admission fee.

Games are mostly set to 25 cents per play, but pinballs are 50 cents or 3/$1 and some of the cockpit games are 50 cents...just like in 1983!

How can I help?

There are many ways you can help this museum be a success.

Visit the museum often
Tell your friends (and acquaintances for that matter)
Loan us your game(s) - Click here for details.
Help us fix our games - Click here for details.
Throw a party at the museum - Click here for details.
Make a Donation - see above.
Sell or donate your arcade stuff to us - Click here for details.
Add a link to our site on your website or blog.
Write an entry on your blog about a visit to our museum (or a plan / desire to visit our museum).

On another note, if you're a big pinball fan, you may be interested in reading about or even helping a new independent pinball movie in the works right now. We at the museum know the producer as well as the chap who came up with the original story! Check this out:

www.pinballdonutgirl.com

We look forward to seeing you at America's Playable Arcade Museum! Thanks for checking out our website!