The new 30,000-square-foot space features 25 interactive exhibits including the Wheel of Misfortune and Love Hug.
Updated: Nov. 19, 2025, 7:14 a.m.Stare inside a giant eyeball at Protoype: The Experimental Museum in Columbus.COLUMBUS, Ohio – Stare into a massive eyeball, pull a lever to see how rising ocean temperatures affect coral reefs, then design your own racing caterpillar and watch it compete.
At a new museum in Columbus, you can spin the Wheel of Misfortune and ponder how you might die; create your own AI-assisted artwork; and rate your hug on a nine-point scale, flirty to familial. The new space, Prototype: The Experimental Museum, is part science center and part art museum – and part something else entirely. It’s the brainchild of Joseph Wisne, founder and chief creative officer of Roto, a suburban Columbus firm that designs and develops museum exhibits. Since 2004, Wisne and his colleagues have created some of the most fun and educational exhibits at museums across the United States, including at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, the Columbus Zoo and Cincinnati Museum Center. The Wheel of Misfortune highlights a variety of possible causes of death, from cancer to liver disease.At Savannah Blind, visitors can adjust the weather and daylight to influence the behavior of a herd of elephants."What is the secret to a happy life?" Visitors to Prototype: The Experimental Museum in Columbus are asked to answer that question.The new space is a place for Wisne and his colleagues to try new things, including ideas that don’t necessarily fit into any other existing museum space. “We wanted a sandbox, a place to play and try out our best ideas,” he said. “Think of it like a prototype.” The museum describes itself as the first and only “experimental museum” in the United States – a subjective claim, perhaps, but it’s certainly the most experimental museum I’ve visited. It begins with an experience called the Boundless Elevator and ends with Flip Dots, a sprawling wall of responsive digital art.“The topics are universal,” said Wisne. “There’s nature. There’s history. There’s psychology. There’s art. There’s technology itself.” The museum takes up 30,000 square feet in a former Lazarus warehouse just south of downtown Columbus, within Scioto Audubon Metro Park. It includes six galleries and 25 individual, interactive exhibits. The last gallery is a theater with a massive screen, showcasing, among other works, experimental designs created moments earlier by guests. There’s also a working bar here.It’s pricey -- $39 to $43, depending on the time of day you visit. But it’s not overpriced for the level of engagement it offers, though the cost may discourage frequent repeat visits. To prevent crowding, the museum limits entry to 80 visitors per hour, allowing 20 guests every 15 minutes. Where art meets science: Boundless Elevator and Floating Bubbles are two exhibits at Prototype: The Experimental Museum.Racing caterpillars at Prototype: The Experimental Museum in Columbus.Jon Ciotti - The Nomadic Circle Serena Chandler, visiting from Cleveland, liked creating AI-assisted art at one exhibit. “Playing around with the technology was fun,” she said. “It’d be good for a couple going on a first date,” added her friend, Gina Ward, of Columbus. “It gives you a lot to talk about.” Many exhibits are designed to spark reflection. The Wheel of Misfortune asks guests to spin a wheel to reveal an imagined age and cause of death. A virtual-reality lounge features a short film exploring personal trauma. Kristal Bell, director of operations, said the museum chose to limit visitors to ages 16 and up not only because of adult-themed content but also to encourage adults to play freely. “When there are no children around, adults are just as playful as kids,” said Bell. “This is a space for you to have fun.”One of the most contemplative exhibits is also one of the simplest: “Leave a Thought.” Visitors are asked to answer the question, “What is the secret to a happy life?” on small slips of paper and insert them into a wall of responses, sorted by age. Visitors can then read each other’s answers. Among the replies: “A supportive community” ; “Happy wife, happy life” ; “Sex, drugs and rock & roll” ; “Finding a meaningful way to spend your days” . Wisne said the exhibits will evolve over time, with some already adjusted based on how early guests interacted with the space.Prototype opened in early November in a former Lazarus warehouse near downtown Columbus.The virtual reality lounge at Prototype: The Experimental Museum in Columbus.540 Maier Place, Columbus, within Scioto Audubon Metro Park, just south of downtown Columbus, about a 2 ½ hour drive from Cleveland.The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday .Tickets are $39 during the earlier hours and increase to $43 in the late afternoon. Advance purchase is strongly recommended.
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