Visitors explore mind-bending exhibits at the Museum of Illusions, where your mind plays tricks on you.
Where things aren't always what they seem
Dive into a world where nothing is quite what it seems at the Museum of Illusions on the corner of North 4th and Market Street — a mind-bending playground where reality takes a twist.
The museum was created in 2022 in the heart of the Old City, and it belongs to a network of 60 Illusions museums across the globe.
The idea for an illusions museum originated in Zagreb, Croatia, by two men who shared an interest in cognitive sciences.
Perfect for all ages, the museum takes about an hour to walk through and explore. Alongside each of its exhibits is a broken-down explanation of the scientific phenomenon powering the illusions.
Stacy Stec, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said that as someone with a background in education, she believes the combination of learning and enjoyment is what makes the experiences meaningful for guests.
“We like to call ourselves an edutainment experience,” Stec said. “Which is a mash-up between education and entertainment. So we are like a museum that's rooted in education and discovery, but we're also very much like an attraction that's all about the fun.”
Our reporters will take you through an exclusive sneak peek into everything the museum has to offer, from fascinating optical illusions to hands-on games.
Upon entering, you’ll find three patterned panels with shapes that appear to jump off the wall.
What’s going on is a particular arrangement of dots and squares, along with a blurring or contrast effect that tricks your mind, making 2-dimensional shapes seem to move 3-dimensionally.
Just across the hall, one installation practically begs for a photo op: a giant mirrored table with a hole in the top, designed to make your head look like it’s been served on a silver platter. Philly Daily reporter Grace Del Pizzo gave it a go—don’t worry, she survived the illusion.
As we made our way through the museum, we stumbled on more picture opportunities—including a mirrored table that multiplies your reflection into a crowd of clones, and a classic Beuchet chair illusion that shrinks visitors down to doll-size.
Aside from photo ops, the museum has also created some especially disorienting rooms, challenging not only your brain but also your balance.
As I walked through the vortex tunnel, I quickly realized why handrails were necessary. The walkway remains completely still, but the surroundings spin around, making your brain assume you’re also spinning in mid-air.
The mirrors on either side of the tunnel make it appear as if it goes on forever, trapping you in an illusion indefinitely.
I wasn’t the only one who struggled with my balance. After talking to Manager Amy Reinig, she agreed that the tunnel has a surreal effect on museum visitors.
“They just have their mind blown,” Reinig said. “And they also get very dizzy and disoriented, but they love it still.”
Stec said the most memorable reactions from guests normally come from the vortex tunnel. Younger kids, who don’t have the patience to stare at something on the wall, can fully experience the effects of the tunnel and often go through multiple times, Stec said.
Stec said that adults often have a different reaction, sometimes throwing out “questionable words.”
“It's fun to get to hear those reactions, because it just differs from person to person. But all in all, it's really reactions of joy that you hear, and just surprise.” Stec said. “Like, how does that do that? Am I moving? Is this, you know, actually happening?”
Once you've overcome any motion sickness, step out of the tunnel and confront your fear of heights. A circular platform offers visitors a view both above and below into a mirrored tunnel that seems to stretch into infinity.
If your senses are still intact, put your mental game to the test with several other mind-boggling displays, including tilted floors, inverted mirrors and flipped furniture.
Towards the end of the museum is what an employee called “one of the last diners in Philly,” but it’s not your typical restaurant. This one is flipped upside down.
Look closely, do you see any suspicious signs?
How about now?
Did the illusion trick you?
Dizzy yet? Yes, this old-fashioned dinner exhibit is upside-down. Snap a few pictures and you’ve got a fun little trick to show friends and family.
Another museum specialty, several holograms can be found in a neighboring room. Tilt side-to-side to see two different variations of the same image, such as a smiling and frowning clown.
While the exhibits offer entertaining fun for otherwise rambunctious children, most provide educational context as well. Alongside written explanations, museum employees are posted throughout the maze of illusions to assist visitors and answer questions about how or why things work.
“We do really want people to learn something about vision and perception and how the brain works when they come through the Museum of Illusion,” Stec said. “So that's why it's really important for us to have those descriptions next to each illusion.”
Reinig said the museum highlights historical themes, as well, with several illusions dating back to the early eighteenth century.
For example, the Ames room: a film trick created in the 1940s by an American ophthalmologist named Adelbert Ames. The illusion makes two people standing at opposite corners of the same room appear to be very different sizes, through a tilted floor effect.
It’s a trick commonly used in movies, Stec said, but most people aren’t aware of what goes on behind the scenes. She referenced "The Hobbit" and "Elf" as two famous movies that use the trick to show big size discrepancies.
Reinig said the Philadelphia team is excited to expand and open up new exhibits in the future, bringing in designs from other branches.
The museum might seem geared toward kids, but if two adults in their twenties had a blast, it's safe to say it offers fun for the whole family. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this sneak peek—now it’s your turn to explore the illusions in person and see what tricks your eyes fall for.
All Photos in this story courtesy of Philly Daily Reporters Grace Del Pizzo and Kate Jackson)
