Museum of Illusions teaches lessons in perception through interactive exhibits

Jadyn+brown+and+Noah+Frank+in+the+Ames+room

NEVN Photography

Jadyn brown and Noah Frank in the Ames room

Arabella Wangen, Reporter

A new interactive museum, called The Museum of Illusions, opened on March 11 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Located just north of Talking Stick Casino in “Arizona Boardwalk”, alongside OdySea Aquarium and Butterfly Wonderland, the museum is made up of 56-60 exhibits that test your perception and mind.

Museum of Illusions started as a unique project which soon became one of the fastest growing education and entertainment places.   This original concept was launched in Zagreb, Croatia in 2015.  Now there are 30 locations worldwide with plans for continued expansion.

The Scottsdale location has hosted large crowds since it opened.

Noah Frank, a guide and customer service employee for the museum, told Northeast Valley News that the museum had 1,000 visitors the first day, and the slowest day they’ve had so far is 700.

Linda Frane, a front desk associate and guide, spoke with Northeast Valley News about some of the background on the exhibits in the museum.

“The Ames room was actually used in The Lord of the Rings. In movie making they were actually doing that with the hobbits and that’s the depth perception, because camera doesn’t see depth perception like a human being does,” Frane said.

The museum allows its visitors to see how illusions started and the magic behind it.

Frane also talked about some of the other exhibits.

“Head on a plate is a 200-year-old magic trick, that a magician did with a fix head,” Frane said. The museum uses a variety of different mind tricks and illusions to share with the public. There are a lot of photo opportunities at the museum to share with friends and family, the workers jump in and get the best photo possible for the museum goers.

Merin Jacle and Dhruv Patel saw the museum being posted “all over” Tik-Tok and decided to use it as a date night.

“We really like it and love the puzzles, it’s very intriguing” Jacle and Patel said about their experience at Museum of Illusions.