Seattle Pinball Museum

Photo: Lesa Monster via Google Maps

The Seattle Pinball Museum is the rare museum where you are supposed to touch everything. Tucked into a storefront on Maynard Avenue South in the Chinatown International District, it keeps more than 50 carefully maintained pinball machines on free play, so one paid admission covers as many games as you care to play.

The museum bills itself as Seattle’s only interactive pinball museum, and the setup makes the history easy to feel. Machines are grouped by era, from the 1960s to the newest releases, so you can work your way through about six decades of game design in a single visit. It works for a rainy afternoon, a date, or a family outing with older kids.

What You’ll See

The floor is organized into three eras: games from 1960 to 1979, from 1980 to 1999, and from 2000 to today. Playing them side by side is the fun of the place, as you notice how art, sound and rules change from decade to decade. A Pinball History exhibit adds background on how the game developed.

The museum is also a certified Jersey Jack Pinball retailer, so a few of the newest machines on the floor double as a showroom for anyone thinking about a game of their own.

The Story Behind It

Charlie and Cindy Martin, a couple from Federal Way, opened the museum on September 4, 2010. Charlie had dreamed about opening a pinball museum, and the pair applied to the Storefronts Seattle program, a neighborhood revitalization effort that picked their idea as one of 10 creative ventures from 140 proposals. They opened with about 20 pinball machines, a few from their own collection and the rest on loan from private collectors, plus four Japanese pachinko machines.

The collection, which Charlie described as one couple’s obsession that outgrew their garage, kept expanding. By 2014 about 50 machines were on display, with dozens more in the Martins’ collection.

Tips for Your Visit

• Children under 7 are not permitted, so plan this one for older kids, teens and adults.
• Sodas, a few snacks, and local craft beers and ciders have been available for purchase on site.
• Uwajimaya, the big Asian grocery store and food court, is within walking distance if you want to make an afternoon of the neighborhood.
• Ask about the rewards stamp card if you think you will be back.

Plan Your Visit

Address: 508 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206.623.0759
Website: seattlepinballmuseum.com
Hours and admission: Check the museum website for current days, hours, and admission before you visit.
Directions: View on Google Maps