Play all the vintage games—including the first pinball machine ever—at the Red Hook Pinball Museum during an after-hours visit
Dive into the history of this beloved game and learn about key designers, artists, and landmark innovations
Look inside a working pinball machine to see how it all works—with a system similar to the NYC Subway!
Discover how the museum's founders meticulously restored each machine
See how pinball's development fits into the larger context of slot machines and countertop "trade stimulator" games that were all the rage in the Depression-era penny arcades
Use a working vintage Bell Atlantic pay phone, experience 1950's 3D photos, and browse an extensive selection of pinball books, original vintage advertising flyers, and other coin-op ephemera
❤️ All ticket proceeds go to the Red Hook Pinball Museum!
All Photos Courtesy of the Red Hook Pinball Museum
About this Event:
Step back in time and dive deep into a crucial American pastime: Pinball!
On this guided visit to the Red Hook Pinall Museum, guests will learn about the game's evolution from lawn bowling in Europe in the 1500's, through its journey across the Atlantic. See an original 1800's bagatelle machine, the first to feature a spring-loaded plunger, and then move forward to 1931 with Whiffle, the first coin-operated pinball machine ever made. With the introduction of the flipper in 1947, player control was introduced, and a whole new game was born.
We'll cover early flipper games from the 1950s, Fiorello La Guardia's anti-gambling legislation that spawned new types of machines, and the development of the layout and artwork of pinball into the golden era of the 1970s.
The Red Hook Pinball Museum also has a vintage Bell Atlantic pay phone, a 1950s 3D photo viewer, a 1924 Mills Slot Machine, and various other coin-operated games from the past that you can enjoy during your visit.
Play all the games along the way, and hone your vintage pinball skills!
About Your Guides:
Wesley Michalski and Kevin Murray both grew up with a love of pinball from a young age. Discovering their mutual passion during COVID, they dove deep into the restoration and preservation of electro-mechanical pinball machines, opening the Red Hook Pinball Museum in February of 2025.
What started as a hobby has grown into much more, with a larger museum space opening in October 2025, and new machines constantly being restored for the public to enjoy.
How do I get this tour for a discount?
If you are not a member yet, become one today at the Insider tier or higher to gain access to discounted tickets!
If you are an Untapped New York Insider, Explorer, or Superfan, simply log in to your account using "Log In" button at the top right of the screen. Once logged in, click on the pink “Book Here” button to book this event!
What if I want to bring a friend who isn't a member?
The more, the merrier! You can book a full-price ticket for a non-member guest on this tour at checkout.
How many tickets can I reserve?
If you are an Insider tier member ($20/month), you can reserve 1 discounted ticket to this event. Explorer-tier members ($30/month) or Superfans ($100/month) can reserve 2 discounted tickets.
If you are a Supporter or Enthusiast level member, it’s easy to upgrade your account here.
You can reserve as many full-price tickets as are available.
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The event is sold out?
In-person Insider tours may have limited capacity and are booked on a first come, first served basis.
But don’t worry! Sometimes spots open up closer to the event date if there are cancellations. We also repeat our most popular events when possible so you will have another opportunity to join us. There are also multiple other members-only events weekly that you can join in!
What if I need to cancel?
If you cancel more than 24 hours ahead of the scheduled event, you will receive a 100% refund. Please be courteous to your fellow Insiders and let us know if you can no longer attend so we can offer your spot to another person.
To cancel your booking, simply click on « cancel booking » in the confirmation email you received upon booking. The confirmation email was sent from messages@fareharbor.com
