Now closed in DC, The National Pinball Museum in Georgetown combined old school arcade thrills with educational value. Dozens of vintage machines were available to play. Or you could just marvel at the amazing backglass artwork and flashing lights. You could quickly walk through full scale dioramas displaying the development of pinball games, from 18th century bagatelles, through the early commercial table games, to the addition of "flippers" that pushed game play to new levels of skill and technique. Much space was given to the mid-century controversy over the "corrupting" and "criminal" influence of pinball games, which resulted in the banning of pinball for many years. Huge wall paintings and flipper furniture added glorious accents. Sadly, the museum's DC location in The Shops at Georgetown (3222 M St. NW) has been closed. The museum is planning a move to a TBA location in Baltimore. Check their website for updates: www.nationalpinballmuseum.org