

The city is located about 13 miles (21 km) northwest of the geographic center of South Carolina, and is the primary city of the Midlands region of the state. Columbia is often abbreviated as Cola, leading to its nickname as "Soda City." The name Columbia is a poetic term used for the United States, derived from the name of Christopher Columbus, who explored for the Spanish Crown. It is the center of the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 829,470 in 2020 and is the 7th largest urban center in the Deep South and the 72nd-largest metropolitan statistical area in the nation. The city serves as the county seat of Richland County, and a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 census, it is the second-most populous city in South Carolina. Depending on when you plan to play, street parking may be hard to come by. No outside food or drink is allowed, but there are snacks, sodas and beer (along with some killer swag) available for purchase.Ģ.

And that kind of policy means small wait times for the smallest players. The request is that if someone’s waiting, limit play time to two games and then give her a turn. As for lines, players are pretty cool about watching out for each other. After all, it’s hard to score big when you can’t quite see the playing field. Can I play this one? You bet! The littles will also love the many step stools that can be found hiding (in plain sight) under various machines.

Just a flat entrance fee and then you get to say “yes” to your kiddo all day.
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First and foremost is that (almost all of) the games are set to free play. If all of this sounds awesome, but you’re wondering if your littles will love it, we found quite a few reasons we think they will. It’s one that’s not on free play, but so worth it. Definitely bring a few dollars to try it out. And the newest is one seriously sweet game minted just last year-The Emerald City, Limited Edition, Wizard of Oz. As for the oldest game in the museum, it’s from the early 60’s. Or scan QR codes with your smart phone for awesome in-depth descriptions to totally geek out. Catch up on some by reading the posted placards that explain the lineage and development of each pinball game. And while the history of it all may fall on deaf ears when it comes to your kidlets, there’s much for parents to appreciate in the artistry of pinball culture. (Psst! Try the Flipper Football on the 2nd floor, featuring the Sounders FC). (After all, it’s hard for Gen Xers to pass up childhood kitsch like Tron and AC/DC.) There might even be a few games your kiddos recognize, too.
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The titles range from long-ago generic games, to contemporary sports, movie and rock ’n’ roll themed machines you’ll recognize and totally love.

The museum has over 50 pinball machines and a few old-school video arcades. If you’re looking for a quieter playtime, Sundays (especially on game days), Mondays, and some Fridays are the best days to get your game on. And while it’s not always crowded, count on busyness whenever you plan to go. Since winning one of the coveted spots, it has become a favorite for kids and those who are young at heart. The museum was part of the 2010 Storefront Seattle project aimed at revitalizing empty storefronts in Pioneer Square and the International District. Between the flashing lights and those distinctive pinging bells, this is one throwback that’s not just for Thursdays. If your mental soundtrack hasn’t already queued up The Who’s Pinball Wizard, it will once you walk through the doors of the museum. Photo: Seattle Pinball Museum Facebook page
