Vision:

The Retro Access Museum covers every age of the video game industry, from its birth in the 1960s to its billion-dollar industry trends today. The halls of the museum will celebrate and preserve the artistry, innovation, and challenges of developing video games, featuring playable exhibits, as well as the opportunity to give budding game developers and others interested in the history of the industry a chance to play the games on the original hardware they were developed for. Going beyond the game, The Retro Access Museum will feature access to supplemental materials from games, ranging from periodicals to soundtracks and regular workshops covering design aspects of the game.

Mission Statement:

Our mission is to honor the legacy of video games by preserving their history and cultural impact, along with allowing those to experience these games due to their ever-increasing rarity. A Video Game History Foundation survey states, “Over 87 percent of video games released before 2010 remain out of print.” While means exist to experience these games to some degree, the accuracy and overall performance can be skewed, leading to misinterpretation of the initially intended game design. We aim to ensure that these games will be experienced as originally intended. With an engaging and friendly atmosphere, the history and ever-continuing evolution of the game industry will continue to be celebrated.

Location:

The Retro Access Museum is scheduled to open a physical location in McHenry, IL, in mid-2027. Our Milestones and Road Map to opening will be updated on a regular basis.