The Early Television Museum Powers Up with a Vintage Video Game Display
Step back in time and press start on a new kind of nostalgia at the Early Television Museum in Hilliard! The museum—already known for showcasing the evolution of television from the 1920s to today—has leveled up with a brand-new Vintage Video Games Display, created by Matthew D’Asaro and Blake Hinkle.
The exhibit highlights this evolution, from early digital displays like the IBM 2260 computer terminal (1964) to the first commercial coin-operated game, Computer Space (1971). Then came the home gaming revolution: the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972—the first-ever home console—and Atari’s Pong in 1975, a collaboration with Sears that brought the thrill of competition right into America’s living rooms.
Visitors can explore and play their way through a collection of working systems from the 1970s to the early 2000s—each paired with a period-correct television. Alongside the consoles, you’ll find fascinating facts, original advertising, manuals, and other artifacts that connect the dots between the evolution of TV and the rise of video games.
Whether you grew up mastering Pac-Man or you’re a next-generation gamer curious about where it all began, this hands-on exhibit is a perfect mix of fun, history, and nostalgia. After you’ve tested your reflexes, be sure to wander through the rest of the museum to see how television itself evolved—from early experimental screens to the high-definition displays of today.
🕹️ Plan Your Visit:
Located at located at 5396 Franklin Street, Hilliard, Ohio, the Early Television Museum is one of the city’s most unique attractions for families, retro-tech fans, and gamers alike. Make the museum a part of your next Hilliard adventure.
Exhibit information and photos courtesy of the Early Television Museum.
