Museum of Illusions Washington, D.C. Opens December 13

The Museum of Illusions Washington, D.C. recently announced its opening on Dec. 13, allowing family travelers to experience mind-bending illusions, games and puzzles. As the 40^th Museum of Illusions to open globally, tickets are now available for purchase.

© Museum of Illusions

Exhibits are in the final stages of construction, with the new museum drawing inspiration from its surroundings, featuring Washingtonian culture throughout its more than 50 exhibits. From a mosaic of Capitol Hill to George Washington’s seemingly lifelike eyes, guests can appreciate the history of the city in a new way.

The museum also includes the Reverse Room, where guests can “hang” from the Blue Metro Line car’s ceiling. In the Ames Room, guests can play around with the illusion of height as they appear to grow and shrink while walking from one corner of the room to the next. The Vortex Tunnel tricks the mind and body into thinking and feeling like the ground moves beneath them, making for a great photo.

© Museum of Illusions

Throughout the museum, guests can experience other optical illusions, didactic games and puzzles, and illusionistic rooms, as well as exhibits on science, mathematics and psychology. The museum hopes to expand guests’ understanding on vision, perception and the human brain.

Visitors can catch a sneak peek at the Museum of Illusions Washington, D.C. pop-up, opening Nov. 18. The pop-up, in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery between 7^th and 9^th Streets, NW and free to experience, opens 12–8 p.m. every day.