Background

Prototype: The Experimental Museum is a 30,000-square-foot adults-oriented destination in Columbus that opened in November 2025 as a “playground for the senses,” blending art, media, and technology into immersive, hands-on installations. Created by the team behind Dublin-based exhibit studio Roto, it occupies a former warehouse in Scioto Audubon Metro Park and is organized into six themed stages with roughly two dozen interactive experiences—kinetic art, digital environments, sound studios, VR, sensory illusions, and visitor-driven experiments that evolve over time. Guests 16 and older are treated as participants rather than spectators; timed tickets keep crowds modest so people can play, create, and talk rather than simply look.

The museum’s mission is genuine human connection in a space that keeps changing: exhibits iterate based on visitor feedback, new “versions” of attractions appear, and programming ranges from surround-sound journeys to private events. It is cashless, ticketed in advance, and designed as a social enterprise rather than a profit-first attraction—ticket revenue funds operations and ongoing R&D. Reviewers often compare it to a grown-up mash-up of COSI and Otherworld: bold, slightly provocative, and never the same visit twice.

540 Maier Place, Columbus, OH 43215

Background summary curated using GrokAI.

Impression

Winding your way through the Scioto Audubon Metro Park, you’ll find a strip of businesses and one of which is the Prototype: Interactive Museum.

One of the biggest issues that we have had with museums is that there is a lot to walk around and look at, but some people learn and gain inspiration from other senses beyond sight. Touch is a big one and whenever we see a museum that allows interaction with the art (one of the reasons we LOVE Otherworld), we have to check it out.

For us, Columbus has another winner on its hands! There are a lot of things to see, do interact with…so if you are a hands on type of person, this is a must visit.

There are a few images here for you to see, but we definitely need to go back and capture some video and sounds as this is a place for fully immersing yourself, engage all the senses!