Museum of Illusions
1545 Woodward Ave.
Detroit
Nov. 23, 2025
An illusion might not be what it seems, but the Museum of Illusions is, which isn’t a bad thing. The global franchise opened its newest location in downtown Detroit this past weekend, offering an immersive, Instagram-worthy exploration of optical illusions and perception.
The museum was a lot of fun and, at times, pretty trippy. Many of the more than 50 installations are a play on mirrors and colors and are things you’ve likely already seen in your lifetime through childhood books, social media or fun houses. As you see larger, in-person versions of the impossible trident, infinity mirrors and the café wall illusion, you also get the scientific explanations behind them, offering an educational “museum” component to the whimsy.
The trippiest experience for me was the tunnel vortex that gives you the sensation of spinning as you walk through. I’d done this before at carnival fun houses, but it seemed more intense, or maybe I just have less tolerance for mind games as an adult. It took me a minute to shake off but was a good time just the same.
In the back of the museum around the halfway point is a series of puzzle games. My self-esteem took a hit as my creative/word-dominant brain tried to reconfigure shapes or figure out how to move pegs or rings in a specific order. I suppose we all need to be humbled sometimes.
The museum also offers plenty of photo opps, like an Ames room that makes objects appear larger or smaller than what they seem and a theater marquee floor that plays off your perception of gravity. Friendly staff were on hand to take photos of you and your group. The museum also has a giant version of a pin art toy that molds to the shape of your hand, but be careful of how you pose, because the pins are very thorough as they capture the contours of your bodies …
When we went through the museum, it was fairly busy, with lines for the more popular interactive installations and photo ops. Mmost people went straight for the exhibits directly in front of them, and we found skipping ahead to open installations and backtracking when things calmed down was an efficient strategy to minimize wait times.
We took about an hour and 15 minutes to experience everything – including a decent amount of game time – which was more than enough. The museum itself estimates it takes about 45-60 minutes to go through, so it’s a relatively quick visit if you’re taking a trip downtown.
Overall, the Museum of Illusions was an entertaining experience that blends spectacle with science, suitable for all ages. Whether you want to learn specifics on the inner workings of the human brain or just want to have fun, it’s a worth a visit next time you head downtown.
