Opening April 14th, Horse Play will highlight the playful side of the Kentucky Derby featuring nearly 60 historic equine toys, digital interactives and music created exclusively for the museum. Drawing from over 140 years of history, Horse Play uses artifacts, games, photographs and videos to capture the engaging, curious and exciting event the Derby is today through the use of toys.
Created as a hands-on game experience, Horse Play will explore the sense of play that is a true part of the world’s greatest racing event. Visitors will activate the sights and sounds around them progressing from a history of horse toys and games to oversized versions of the artifacts themselves. As a ‘you can touch’ museum, guests are invited to engage their senses and play in the space while listening to the original music compositions created by the local musicians of Whistle Peak.
The museum has purchased a circa-1970’s, coin-operated, Kentucky Derby-themed carousel ride to become a permanent mainstay of the museum for this exhibit. Additional artifacts displayed in the exhibit range from bobbleheads, dolls and racing games to wooden horses and board games. Many of the featured items are on loan from collaborating partners including the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and the Ken Grayson Collection. Additional digital displays are contributed by KET and The Courier-Journal.
The exhibit is included in general admission and will be open to the public every day from Monday, April 14th through December 31, 2014 on the museum’s second floor in the Matt Winn Gallery.
Media images can be found here courtesy of Kentucky Derby Museum:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77780824@N08/sets/72157642950705793/