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All the United States California Alameda Pacific Pinball Museum

Pacific Pinball Museum

Playable, historic pinball machines fill this Alameda museum.

Alameda, California

Added By
Rebekah Otto
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  http://www.flickr.com/photos/petesimon/405...
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People playing to their hearts content   brookpeterson
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About

Once called Bagatelle, pinball descended from billiards and other table games of the mid-1700s. But pinball was first patented in 1871 by Montague Redgrave who added the spring-loaded plunger to start the game.

During the Depression, pinball popularity boomed. A coin-operated version sold for $17.50, so saloons and drugstores quickly made back their investment on this table-top game.

However, because of its association with gambling, pinball machines were banned in many large American cities, like New York and Los Angeles, in the 1940s. By the mid-70s the laws were overturned when a pinball-defender proved that pinball was a game of skill, not a game of luck.

The Pacific Pinball Museum offers over 90 "playable, historic pinball machines" with the signature lights, bells and whistles of the greatest models. Like most museums, the PPM owns a much larger collection - over 400 machines! - but only some are available for the public to see.

Related Tags

Pinball Museums Collections Arcades

Know Before You Go

It is near San Francisco, so take the ferry and uber, or bus from the city, or drive and park near by. Closed on Mondays.

Community Contributors

Added By

Rebekah Otto

Published

January 18, 2010

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  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinball
Pacific Pinball Museum
1510 Webster St
Alameda, California, 94501
United States
37.773724, -122.276745
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Nearby Places

Naval Air Station Alameda

Alameda, California

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Alameda

Alameda

California

Places 6
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Naval Air Station Alameda

Alameda, California

miles away

Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon

Oakland, California

miles away

USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum

Alameda, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Alameda

Alameda

California

Places 6
Stories 1

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