Ottumwa, Iowa: Birthplace of eSports Plaque
Large bronze plaque marks the former spot of the Twin Galaxies video arcade, which created the world's first rules for competitive video gaming. It went out of business in 1984.
- Address:
- 226 E. Main St., Ottumwa, IA
- Directions:
- Downtown, on the south side of E. Main St. between S. Market and S. Green Sts. Plaque is on the front of the building with the red awning.
Visitor Tips and News About Birthplace of eSports Plaque
Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.
Large bronze plaque heralds the birthplace of organized competitive eSports (video game playing). This was the site in the early 1980s of Twin Galaxies -- history's most famous video game arcade.
[Walter Day, 06/24/2019]Nearby Offbeat Places
Mars Hill Church: Haunted Bridge, UFOs, Bloomfield, IA - 9 mi.
Grave of the Oldest Soldier in the Civil War, Chillicothe, IA - 8 mi.
American Gothic House, Eldon, IA - 12 mi.Latest Tips Across Roadside America
Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.
Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!
Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.
Ottumwa proclaimed itself "Video Game Capital of the World" in 1982, but "eSports" sounds at least 20 years less dated -- and cooler. The plaque was unveiled August 16, 2015. Twin Galaxies closed in 1984.