Open May 9, 2026 - September 7, 2026
Big games, bigger fun!
What was your childhood passion? Jumping rope until sunset? Building adventures with Star Wars® figures? Baking tiny treats in an Easy-Bake Oven®? Whatever sparked your imagination, you will rediscover it in TOYTOPIA.
This immersive, hands-on exhibition invites visitors of all ages to explore the world of toys from the early 1900s to today. Spanning more than 5,000 square feet, TOYTOPIA brings beloved classics like Atari®, Erector Set®, and vintage board games to life through interactive displays, video, and play.
Step into a retro 80s arcade filled with full-size games, build your own creations in the LEGO® play area, or test your skills with giant versions of Battleship® and Connect 4®. Marvel at the world’s largest Etch-A-Sketch®, stretch your creativity with Keva Planks® and Lincoln Logs®, and explore the science of motion in the “Kinetic Toys” zone.
Along the way, discover how toys are made, why some become timeless favorites, and what makes them meaningful across generations.
TOYTOPIA is more than an exhibition—it is a joyful journey through the power of play, memory, and imagination.
TOYTOPIA highlights include:
Part of the Peoria Riverfront Museum's celebration of America 250
The Peoria Riverfront Museum is celebrating the 250th anniversary of our nation in 2026. Join us all year long for exhibitions on American art, science, history and achievement, including The Promise of Liberty , an exhibition guest curated by documentarian Ken Burns. Featuring a 1776 copy of the Declaration of Independence, a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech and more, this exhibition will be the largest collection of some of the most important documents in American history on display during America 250.
TOYTOPIA is sponsored by PNC, Ruby K. Warner Charitable Trust, OSF Healthcare Children's Hospital of Illinois, America 250 donors, Visionary Society, Family Fun Club
