Just like the humble beginnings of Minecraft in 2009, its world premiere exhibition at MoPOP was born from a simple idea.

Four years ago, Brooks Peck and Jacob McMurray sat down to brainstorm ideas on future MoPOP exhibits. Given their curatorial roles at MoPOP this conversation could have taken any direction.

But, both being fans of Minecraft it didn’t take long before the two found a common sandbox in which to play. 

Simple idea, huge challenge

Peck pointed out that the idea behind the MoPOP exhibition was to create an immersive environment for those who know and love Minecraft. “Plus those with parents in tow,” Peck was quick to add.

But like Minecraft, one idea led to another and the exhibit began to take on a life of its own. “This was a huge challenge,” McMurray exclaimed. “[We had] a huge exhibit to create that didn’t have any artifacts.”

That did not deter McMurray or Peck. Nor did it ruffle the 50-plus individuals it took to make the exhibit a reality.

With all of the dust settled, the exhibit spans multiple galleries, includes 16 Minecraft Mobs (please feel free to touch), and dioramas representing some of the 30-plus biomes found in Minecraft. All of this under the watchful eye of a 30-foot Ender Dragon.

Don’t fear the Creeper

If you are at all familiar with Minecraft, you know that the Creeper is to be feared. But at MoPOP, the Creeper is your friend.  Or at least you can snag a selfie with it and not have your creation blown to bits.

In fact, there are plenty of opportunities to feed your Instagram – or Snapchhat feed. “We wanted to make the exhibit filled with fun photo ops to make you feel part of the game,” noted McMurray.

This not only includes the Mobs scattered throughout, but also recreations of scenes borrowed straight from Minecraft. A particular favorite of mine was The Nether – a portal to another dimension – bringing the Zombie Pigman to life.

The first rule of Minecraft

When beginners start off on their first Minecraft journey there is an undeniable urge to burrow yourself underground when trouble arises.  But all players quickly learn the first rule of Minecraft – do NOT dig straight down.

In fact, the urge is so prevalent that Peck and McMurray included a first night alcove in the exhibit. The potential plunge into a lava pool will be a familiar sensation with almost all beginners.

The MoPOP exhibition also has a whole gallery dedicated with stations for beginners to try their hand at Minecraft (full disclosure – that’s where you’ll find me).

Beginning, middle, and no end

For the uninitiated, there is a welcome video that provides revealing insight from the creators of Minecraft into this phenomenal world. A 10-year anniversary timeline shows just how impressive its climb in popularity has been.

Perhaps you were playing Tetris on your Game Boy back in the mid-80s. It’s had a remarkable run for almost 35 years. But, as the timeline points out, with 112 million monthly users Minecraft recently dethroned Tetris in popularity.

The popularity of Minecraft has also spawned all kinds of pop culture offshoots. MoPOP leaves no stone, or in the case of the Minecraft-inspired bedroom, no pillow unturned. The bedroom display is a treasure trove of Minecraft artifacts waiting to be discovered – and likely coveted. You can also spend an inordinate amount of time delving into all of the pop references from the Minecraft YouTube videos compiled by MoPOP.

It’s clear that Minecraft has become so much more than just a video game. And the possibilities of what it might become in the future is limitless.

“Minecraft would not be anything without community, said McMurray. “It has been described as a digital lego – in some whays that’s an apt description.”

Ultimately the exhibit is designed to reflect the video game itself.

“Minecraft is a creative platform where you can build whatever you can imagine,” Peck noted. “Our hope is that this exhibit inspires people to get into this game and create in their own way.”

Minecraft The Exhibition

MoPOP – Museum of Pop Culture
325 5th Ave N., Seattle
Open Daily 10AM – 5PM
Tickets: $6 – $36 (free for children 0-4)