Magic Museums

A list of museums which showcase magic, magicians, and the various tools they use.

(Updated: December 15, 2017)

For families interested in the art of illusion, we decided to make the search easier for you and compile an ongoing list of museums about magic you can visit. We will be adding to this list regularly. If there are museums we missed and worth noting here, do not hesitate to let us know.

And, in no particular order, here are some museums worth checking out for all the magic-enthusiasts out there.

The American Museum of Magic in Marshall, Michigan, is reputably the largest magic museum open to the public in the United States. The museum houses a large collection of magical paraphernalia and includes both famous and obscure magicians. It has been described as as “the Smithsonian of American magic.”

The Musée de la Magie is a private museum located in the vaulted cellar of Marquis de Sade's former dwelling in Paris. The museum showcases a variety of magical items dating from the 18th century to the present day. Ever wondered how magicians back in the day 'conjured' up ghosts as part of their acts? This museum will reveal their secrets among many others.

The Houdini Museum offers a magic show complete with a tour of the museum featuring memorabilia and artifacts relating to the famous magician. Reservations are recommended. The show and tour can take 2 and a half hours.

The Australian Museum of Magical Arts allows guests to get inside of a magician's mind through personal objects, photos, mementos, plans, books, and artifacts. Apart from revealing the many secrets of a magician, the museum also delves into the role magic has played in history and in various popular culture forms. The museum aims to convey the significant power imagination yields while celebrating wonderment and creativity.

Magic Museum Rossy, located in Fruska Gora, national park of Serbia, boasts the largest collection in the Balkans on the history of magic art. The collection consists of 3,000 books about magic and magicians. Some of the museum's books stem from the 18th century, including the first book about magic, "Magician", printed in Serbian language.

The Egyptian Hall Museum is the oldest private magic museum in America. The museum's library is known for its impressive collection of magician's lithographs and was at one point known as having the largest repository in the world. Books, periodicals, letters, and photos representing numerous magicians are also housed in the museum's library.

The British Magic Museum opened its doors on August 2017. Covering a span of 450 years, the new centre espouses to house apparatus, ephemera, and memorabilia relating to magic which cannot be found anywhere else.

The Museu del Rei de la Magia traces the history of magic in Spain. The museum features artifacts which date back as far as the 19th century.

The House of Houdini contains original and authentic Houdini memorabilia, such as handcuffs, personal letters, and other precious artifacts. The museum also houses a research centre and a showroom.

The Houdini Museum of New York houses 1500 pieces of Houdini memorabilia. Some of the items currently on display include extremely rare publicity posters, unthinkable handcuffs, large escape restraints, secret tools to escape, mystifying magic props, spiritualistic expose items, thought provoking photographs and creative advertising memorabilia.