We’ve enjoyed previous exhibitions at Rochester, New York’s Strong Museum of Play that showcased the history of arcade racing games and Cold War-themed atomic toys, so it is no surprise that the museum has cooked up another exhibit that falls squarely in the Design News reader’s wheelhouse: a 50^th-anniversary tribute to the groundbreaking role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.

The exhibit, Dungeons & Dragons: 50 Years of Storytelling, opened Sept. 21 to celebrate the game’s history, legacy, and cultural impact. Anyone old enough to marvel at the cultural rehabilitation that saw the once loathed and feared rap musician Snoop Dog become the darling of the Paris 2024 Olympics might also be astonished by how today’s D&D nostalgia arose from the cultural panic of the early ‘80s, as depicted in the 1982 Tom Hanks movie Mazes & Monsters.

That’s why 50 Years of Storytelling includes displays on controversies the game has faced over the years, gear. and costumes. It also looks at miniature game play and how that influenced the development of digital fantasy role-playing games and, finally, an embrace by broader popular culture. The game got a recent boost from its depiction in the Netflix series, Stranger Things.

“Since its creation in 1974, Dungeons & Dragons has captured the imaginations of millions worldwide and paved the way for a new era of interactive storytelling and roleplaying games,” said Jon-Paul Dyson, PhD, Senior Vice President for Exhibits and Interpretive Resources at The Strong National Museum of Play.

Related:Celebrate the History of Arcade Racing Games with this Museum Exhibit

“This exhibit offers an exciting opportunity to explore the game’s rich history, showcasing the creativity and innovation that Dungeons & Dragons has inspired over the past 50 years,” Dyson promised. “From the first-edition game and original artwork to iconic character designs and dungeon maps, visitors will see first-hand the game’s evolution and its lasting impact on popular culture.”

The museum’s exhibit guides visitors through 20 sections, one section for each side of the game’s signature D20 20-sided die. The rare artifacts, prototypes, original artwork, interactive elements, and behind-the-scenes insights, promise to interest both new audiences and seasoned players. These include a first-edition Dungeons & Dragons game set and the inaugural issue of Dragon magazine that was mailed to D&D co-creator Gary Gygax.

Museum guests get the chance to create their own characters, monsters, and dungeons, or if they’re feeling ambitious, even test their skill at running a game as a Dungeon Master in a 5-minute campaign challenge. Maybe the museum should invite guests to exercise their own crystal balls and take a stab at predicting what currently uncomfortably edgy aspect of popular culture will join D&D and Snoop Dog by being warmly adopted by mainstream society in a couple decades.

Related:Remembering Cold War Atomic Toys and Games

Dungeons & Dragons: 50 Years of Storytelling  will remain open until January 2025. For more information, please visit https://www.museumofplay.org/.